New Boone Bridge Will Feature Bike Lane, Scenic Overlook

The old Boone Bridge was built in 1935, and MoDOT says it's time for it to go. The new bridge that will take its place over the Missouri River will have a very different look, but it will also offer new opportunities for hikers, bikers and sight-seers.

MoDOT held an open house Tuesday at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C facility to allow the public a chance to examine plans and ask questions about the bridge project.

The new bridge will look similar to the Chain of Rocks Bridge in north St. Louis County, without the familiar steel upper framework.

A biking/walking lane on the new bridge will connect the Monarch Levee Trail on the St. Louis side to the Katy Trail on the St. Charles side, and the trail will have a "bump-out" where people can stand and enjoy the view of the Missouri River.

When the project is complete, both the new westbound bridge and the existing 1980s bridge will have four lanes and shoulders, with the westbound fourth lane starting at the Chesterfield Airport Road entrance ramp and continuing to the Route 94 exit.

A new Chesterfield Airport Road interchange will connect the North Outer Road to the westbound I-64 on ramp.  

MoDOT issued the following list of expected impacts of bridge construction:

For 2013

• New bridge construction upstream. No impact
• Lane shifts and narrowing lanes in both irections, St. Charles side.
• Monarch Levee Trail closed under bridge.

For 2014

• Lane shifts and narrowing lanes both directions, St. Charles side.
• Lane shifts and narrowing westbound lanes, St. Louis side.
• Monarch Levee Trail closed under bridge.
• Weekend work: one lane and ramp to Chesterfield Airport Road closed.
• Weekend closure to demolish Chesterfield Airport Road ramp bridge.
• Weekend closure to install new beams at Chesterfield Airport Road ramp bridge.
• One month closure of Spirit bridge over I-64.
• Late 2014: Opening of new eastbound I-64 bridge.

For 2015

• Lane shifts and narrowing westbound lanes, St. Louis side.
• Rehab work on 1980s bridge. No impacts.
• Move westbound traffic to 1980s bridge.
• Open fourth westbound lane to Route 94.
• Late 2015: Demolish 1935 bridge.

The project is expected to wrap up at the end of 2015.