SIKESTON, Mo. – The Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction for the Don Welge Memorial Bridge (formerly Chester Bridge).
The ceremony will be held today at 11 a.m. on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River at the Don Welge Memorial Bridge construction site.
The bridge spans the Mississippi River, connecting the cities of Perryville, Missouri and Chester, Illinois via Missouri Route 51/Illinois Route 150.
Anticipated speakers include:
- Brian Okenfuss, MoDOT Project Director
- Stephen Travia, IDOT Director
- Dustin Boatwright, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Vice Chair
- Tom Welge, CEO of Gilster-Mary Lee
In March 2023, the Ames Team—comprised of Ames Construction Inc. and Parsons Transportation Group—was selected to design and build the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. The team will construct a three-tower, cable-stayed bridge, and completion is anticipated by the end of 2026.
The new bridge will cost approximately $284 million to complete.