Politics & Government

MoDOT Awards Contract for I-70 Blanchette Bridge

The project to rehab the 53-year-old bridge is scheduled for 2012-2013.

ST LOUIS – At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract to complete major repair and replacement work on the 1958 westbound Interstate 70 Blanchette Bridge over the Missouri River.

The $62.7 million contract was awarded to Walsh Construction Company of Chicago, IL. On average, this section of I-70 carries approximately 160,000 vehicles per day in both directions crossing between St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

Work will include the replacement of the truss sections of the bridge, replacement of the entire driving surface of the five-lane bridge and repairs and replacements to many other major elements.

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Work could begin as early as January 2012 and must be complete by April 2014. Any impacts to traffic must be completed by Dec. 31, 2013. The contractor will be allowed to close the westbound bridge for 12 months and detour all traffic onto the eastbound bridge. The timing of the closure will not be available for several more months.

“This project includes a major facelift for this bridge to enable it to last another 50 years.  We are pleased to get a good contract and get the work underway,” said MoDOT St. Charles Area Engineer Tom Evers. “Over the next couple of months, the contractor will be ordering steel and other supplies and working with us on their detailed schedule. We know there is concern over the timing of the 12 month closure and detour, and we hope to provide information on that in early 2012.”

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