Champ Clark Bridge Site Selection Decision Moved Up

Site selection for a new Louisiana bridge has been moved up a few months, but work can’t begin until money is found to pay for it.   

The Missouri Department of Transportation originally projected picking a route by the middle of 2015, but that date has been moved to later this year. There are three construction options. Two would go north of the existing Champ Clark Bridge and one would be south of it.

An environmental study will be completed soon. After that, there won’t be much work done on the project without an influx of state or national funding to boost the state’s transportation budget. A replacement for the 86-year-old Champ Clark Bridge is considered a statewide priority. The span is only 20 feet wide, and prompted safety concerns after a deadly 2011 accident that led to a pending federal lawsuit.

A state engineer on the project said the department is doing as much as it can now because it wants to be ready to proceed if funding comes through.