Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge

There were originally intended to be 8 instead of 4 lanes on the bridge. IDOT even had a special video presentation on their website, showing the proposed bridge with 8 lanes and what it would look like crossing the bridge once it was completed. They even had fireworks in the background! However, Missouri never wanted the bridge, while Illinois did, so as a result of reduced funding, it wound up being reduced to 4 lanes. It is also probably why there are no connecting ramps from I-44 northbound, although you can access the bridge from northbound Tucker Boulevard in downtown St. Louis.

Considering that I-70 is a major thoroughfare, I would think that this new bridge would have been built to accommodate more than four lanes of traffic.

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge was named as such because it was a joint venture between Illinois and Missouri. Missouri wanted it named in memory of Stan Musial; Illinois wanted to honor veterans. Most likely, the only reason that Stan Musial became part of the name was that he died in 2013 around the time that the bridge was officially labeled.

Remember if you eat your Wheaties you too can grow up to do big things. Then they might honor you with a bridge in your name.

The Luke Harden Memorial Floating Deck Truss perhaps?

It will be interesting to see exactly which name sticks with this bridge. "Stan Span" seems to be popular as a nickname, but it could end up being "Musial Bridge", "I-70 Bridge", or simply "New Bridge".

Wikipedia explains the complicated history of the name and why "Veterans" was included: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Musial_Veterans_Memorial_B...

It's certainly better than one proposal, the "Jerry F. Costello-William Lacy 'Bill' Clay Sr. Veterans Memorial Bridge."

They still found a way to sneak in William Clay, though. The Poplar Street Bridge, which was originally the "Bernard F. Dickmann Bridge", is now officially the "Congressman William L. Clay Sr. Bridge." The first name never stuck (Dickmann who?) so I serious doubt anybody will care about the new name.

Personally, I wish they would name a bridge after the people who actually make it possible -- such as the "Taxpayers Bridge".

Stan Musial? As a sports figure, I suppose he's better known than any politician, so maybe naming a structure that should last many, many decades after him isn't so bad.

But also Veterans Memorial? St. Louis had a Veterans Bridge - and the name was changed to "Martin Luther King Jr." http://bridgehunter.com/mo/st-louis-city/king/

And "Veterans Memorial" is the official name of the Page Ave. bridge. http://bridgehunter.com/mo/st-louis/page/

So now this bridge is named after Stan Musial AND veterans?

At least no historic bridges were removed or harmed in the building of this one - so far as I can tell.

MoDot Press Release states the new bridge will be opened Feb 9, 2014.

http://www.newriverbridge.org/documents/2013-12-12MissouriIl...

They began placing the steel cross-members for the deck on each tower last week (Thursday, June 14).

Here is the construction web-cam (requires Flash Player)...

http://oxblue.com/open/modot/mrbp

"Missouri facing East" may be the most interesting camera and one can use the calendar interface to review the construction progress.

One can easily see the towers from five-six miles west of the Mississipi River on eastbound I-44 or westbound on I-55/70 northeast of East St. Louis. It may have been a playful homage to the Gateway Arch to similarly shape the towers, but the inverted-V shape is undoubtedly less expensive.

The towers look like they are nearly full height. They are easily visible from the Martin Luther King bridge and maybe from the Interstates on the Poplar Street bridge. I added a photo even though it's not a bridge yet.

A construction worker working on the new I-70 Mississippi river bridge fell into the river and is missing. According to the news story this happened on the IL-side of the bridge construction.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/missing-...

A carpenter working on a span of the new Mississippi River fell from an industrial lift into the river and vanished Wednesday, setting off a search of the river and prompting federal workplace safety investigators to head to the work site.

Rescuers suspended their search in the late afternoon, said Capt. Dan Sutter of the St. Louis Fire Department. Rescuers intend to resume their search today.

East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Floore said Wednesday evening the missing worker was tentatively identified as Andy Gammon, 35, of Park Hills. Gammon is a carpenter who works for the joint venture team of Massman, Traylor Bros., and Alberici that is prime contractor on the bridge project.

The worker was on a piece of equipment called an aerial man lift when it fell into the river, according to Greg Horn, the Missouri Department of Transportation’s project director on the bridge project.

The man lift was on a barge about 150 feet upstream of a large concrete tower for the new bridge, but toppled into the water at about 10:30 a.m. along with the worker.

Tours are being conducted once a month for the public.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/construction-buffs-...