Community Corner

Blanchette Bridge Project Progressing Ahead of Scheudle

MoDOT hopes to open the bridge in Mid-August, three months ahead of the original schedule.

The Blanchette Bridge project is progressing ahead of schedule.

On Friday morning Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Ed Hassinger and St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith said Friday morning that the project could be finished three months ahead of schedule. 

When the westbound bridge was closed November 2, 2012, plans called for the shutdown to last for a maximum of one year. However Hassinger said MoDOT is pushing to open the bridge  annual Festival of the Little Hills in mid-August. If MoDOT hits that goal, the project would be done three months ahead of the original schedule. 

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MoDOT said this week that Walsh Construction installed the last major piece of structural steel for the bridge. Since March, crews have installed approximately 2,200 pieces of steel for a total weight of 6.5 million pounds of steel in the truss and 1.5 million pounds of steel girders. 

Crews have now begun pouring the concrete bridge deck. Despite extreme low river levels in the winter and flood levels in the spring, the contractor and team of local trades have continued on an aggressive schedule.

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