Concrete work advances $700M Mississippi River bridge in St. Louis

The new $229 million Mississippi River bridgeis taking shape as both its towers have reached 200 feet in height, half their eventual height of 400 feet, according to theMissouri Department of Transportation    (MoDOT).

Some 10 truck loads of concrete were added to the structures Monday, the agency said. Construction on the towers is projected to be complete in late spring. After that, crews will begin placing the cables, which are about 50 miles in length, and framework for the driving service. When completed, the bridge will span 1,500 feet, making it the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the country.

The approximately $700 million Mississippi River bridge project not only includes the bridge itself, but also the relocation of interchanges on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. The bridge project wasawarded to a joint venture comprised of St. Louis-based Alberici Corp    ., Massman Construction Co.    of Kansas City and Traylor Bros. Inc. of Indiana.

The bridge was projected to create nearly 3,000 direct and indirect jobs in the metro area. The new span is expected to rejuvenate the surrounding area and could spur about $25.3 billion inregional economic activity in the next 45 years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2012/01/10/mississippi-river-bridge-reaches-200.html

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