Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was well attended and honored the legacy of Don Welge
By Jim Beers
ILLINOIS-MISSOURI State Line – Saturday July 11 was the dedication of the brand new, state-of-the-art Don Welge Memorial Bridge, otherwise known as the “Chester Bridge”. A full morning of special activities helped to commemorate the occasion and in spite of some questionable weather, the event was completed with little or no complications.
Friday night heavy rains struck Chester which created a bit of concern, however on Saturday morning, the rain had stopped and authorities gave the green light to go full-steam ahead.
The morning began with the much anticipated 5K Run/Walk Across the Bridge hosted by Mid America Rehabilitation who has a branch in Perryville. The event was extremely well attended with a pre-registration of 773 participants, which was the biggest race ever held in Chester. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities took part in the event to pay tribute to Don Welge and help to open the bridge.
Top finishers in the 5K Run/Walk included Cayton Cratch (17:37.91), Bair Hopkins (18:04.93), and Andrew Woodard (18:38.75). Top finishers in the 5K Pushing Stroller w/Child Category included John Meyer (40:14.01), Danielle Verseman (44:24.82), and Shauna Hilton (48:59.13).
All race participants had to be off the bridge by 9 a.m. when the bridge was open to the public for spectators. Visitors had the opportunity to see the new bridge and experience walking on the bridge up close and personal. The bridge walk was very well attended right up until the start of the dedication ceremony.
Shortly after the race and during the bridge walk, the region experienced a slight rain. Fortunately, it didn’t last long or cause any major inconveniences. At 11 a.m. the crowd had increased to more than 1,000 people who had gathered to witness the official dedication of the bridge.
The official event began with the presentation of the colors by the Illinois National Guard, 631st Engineer Support Company from Sparta, Illinois and the American Legion Post 622 in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois. The crowd then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. It was one of the most impressive group presentations of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
The Chester Municipal Band was originally scheduled to perform a brief pre-concert and then perform the National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”, but due to potential weather threats, it was decided that it would be better not to submit the instruments, sheet music, and musicians to the potential poor weather.
The entire group of attendees, however, followed the music provided by the sound company and almost everyone sang along with the playing of the National Anthem. It was almost bone chilling to hear such a large group singing together in support of the United States. Don Welge was extremely patriotic and would have loved it!
Following the National Anthem, the Rev. Dr. Mike Fogerson, of the First Baptist Church in Chester, gave a heart-felt Invocation to give an appropriate start to the Dedication Ceremony.
Brian Okenfuss, MoDOT Project Director, welcomed everyone to the event. He noted that in October of 2023, on a very cold day, he remembered the ground-breaking of the bridge project.
Okenfuss said, “On that day, I announced two goals to the cold, shivering crowd. One was to open the Don Welge Bridge by July of 2026, and we missed that goal by just a week or two, and I promised that the weather would definitely be warmer at completion!” Okenfuss also noted that Monday July 13, 2026 the south-bound lane of the new bridge would open.
Missouri State Senator Jamie Burger spoke next. He said, “All major projects have a driving force behind them and that Don Welge was the force behind the bridge project. Illinois Representative David Friess, recounted growing up around the Chester Bridge and still had many fond memories of the old bridge. One of his memories was that it was a toll bridge originally.
Key construction and project managers were next to speak.
Mitch Johnson was the Project Manager and David Duke was the Construction Manager.
Mitch Johnson thanked both the Perryville and Chester communities for welcoming and including Ames Construction staff into their towns. Johnson said, “These communities have been the most welcoming communities of any project that I have worked with.”
Johnson then introduced Brent Buerck, Perryville City Administrator. He was definitely one of the most welcoming and entertaining speakers at the event. He noted that he had several “antics” as he was growing up in the Perryville-Chester area, including being escorted to the Chester Bridge by “Chester’s Finest” (POLICE) after a night on the town in Chester. He was then allowed to walk across the bridge to call for a ride to his home in Perryville. He drew a huge and happy response to his stories.
David Duke said, “This is a proud day for both Ames and Parsons. This project was a very safe project with no major accidents regarding workers. I also want to give a shout out to former Chester Mayor Tom Page.” Page was mayor when the project started back in 2023 and until last year in 2025.
Duke then introduced current Chester Mayor Joe Eggemeyer.
Eggemeyer said, “We stand between the past and the future”.
Eggemeyer recounted that he was the last maintenance worker when the Chester Bridge was still a toll bridge.
Both Chester Mayor Eggemeyer and Perryville City Administrator Buerck were extremely thankful for the fine job that Ames and Parsons have done in getting the Don Welge Memorial Bridge completed in such and quick and efficient fashion.
IDOT Chief Engineer Lora Rensing said, “There was a strong inter-agency collaboration in this project”. She also noted that Re-Build Illinois provided $140 million to the project. She was thrilled with the final product and praised the efforts of all personnel involved!
MoDot Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger said, “The old bridge was considered to be an engineering marvel when it was built. Fifteen-to-twenty years ago, Don Welge began to work to raise awareness of the need for a new bridge. The total cost of the new bridge is $307 million dollars”. Hassinger then recognized the few people in the audience who were also in attendance when the old bridge opened in 1942.
To close out the dedication, Don Welge’s son, Tom Welge, spoke about the project as well as about his father. Welge said,” The bridge was a ‘mission’ for my father. He did a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get support for the project like phone calls, letters, and face-to-face meetings. People depend on the bridge and this bridge will connect us and move us forward”.
The Welge family then came to the stage and conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony as the crowd cheered loudly and proudly. To end the program, Tom Welge and Austin Welge, Rob Welge’s son, unveiled the new road signs that named the bridge. The signs read, “Don Welge Memorial Bridge”. The new signs were installed and unveiled to the public on the bridge Monday July 13. The first vehicle to cross the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge was a bright and shiny Gilster Mary-Lee truck and trailer.
To end the dedication, a moving Closing Prayer was given by Pastor Matthew Marks from the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. The Colors were retired by the Illinois National Guard and American Legion Color Guards.
Crystal Jones, Executive Director of the Perry County Development Authority was very essential in organizing and directing numerous activities related to the bridge project over the years. She said, “I am very pleased with how both the bridge and the dedication Ceremony turned out! We had a planning team of approximately 30 people who worked hard to accomplish our goals. It took everyone working together to make it all happen!”
Jones also gave much credit to the sponsors who helped financially make the dedication event so greatly successful. Those “major” sponsors included the following:
Gilster Mary-Lee, TG Missouri, First State Community Bank, Robinson Companies, Perryville Development Corporation, Silkworm, Inc., Dave Holder, CPA, Southern Illinois Motor Express, Siemer Milling, Memorial Hospital of Chester, Loy-Lange Box, Knight Hawk Coal, Advanced Industrial Solutions, ProAmpac, Martin Grain Co., Better Hearing Solutions, Anthony & Sarah Allen, Ames Construction, MOD-PAC, Buena Vista National Bank, Red Dot Construction, Gateway Solar, Berlin Packaging, Pattern Energy, and Cargill.
Nicole Thieret, MoDOT Direct Communications Manager said, “It was a true honor to work with the Perryville and Chester Development Corporation on the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony”.
“Throughout the months of planning leading up to the event, I had the privilege of getting to know many dedicated individuals. An event of this significance does not come together by chance! Its success was the result of strong partnerships, thoughtful collaboration, and a shared commitment to ensuring that Don Welge and his family remained at the heart of every decision”.
When questioned as to who contributed such great sound and the video board production, Thieret noted that the professional-quality sound was produced by Dean Bader of dB Productions and Mike Warrant of Warrant Audio & Visual. The Video Board was the excellent production of Robinson Outdoor.
Both Perryville’s and Chester’s Chamber of Commerce organizations were on hand to sell official Don Welge Memorial Bridge T-shirts, produced by Silkworm, Inc. Trading Coins were also available for purchase.
The event committee organized and coordinated an amazingly effective transportation program utilizing eight air-conditioned school busses from Robinson Transportation in Chester and four shuttle busses. This effort made travel and movement from the parking lots at the Chester Cohen Recreation Complex and the Perryville Airport effortless and efficient.
Food truck delights were also available as well as good-natured fellowship from participants from both sides of the Mississippi River. All related personnel and management organizers did a wonderful job of bringing a top-notch Bridge Dedication to fruition.
The Don Welge Family unveils the Don Welge Memorial Bridge State Road Signs that are placed at each side of the bridge. Austin Welge, son of Rob Welge (left) and Tom Welge, son of Don Welge (right) do the honors of taking off the cover to unveil the signs. Jim Beers Photo
The family of Don Welge poses for a family photo at the dedication of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
The Family of Mike Welge, Don Welge’s younger brother, awaits the start of the Dedication Ceremony of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Saturday morning July 11. Jim Beers Photo
Ed Hassinger, MoDot Director, gives an energetic speech at the dedication of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Jim Beers Photo
David Duke, Construction Manager of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge speaks at the dedication of the new bridge. Jim Beers Photo
Tom Page, former Mayor of Chester, poses by the road sign of the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Page was Mayor for the first two years of construction of the bridge and became quite involved with the project during the early phases of construction. Jim Beers Photo
Current Mayor of Chester, Joe Eggemeyer, inherited the Don Welge Memorial Bridge project from former Mayor Tom Page last year and had the pleasure of seeing the project finished in 2026. Eggemeyer spoke at the bridge dedication Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
The Don Welge Family cuts the ribbon on the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Saturday July 11. Shown are Don’s Wife, Mary Alice Welge and his younger son, Tom Welge, as Brian Okenfuss, MoDot Project Director, prepares the ribbon. Jim Beers Photo
Brent Buerck, Perryville City Administrator, speaks at the dedication of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Jim Beers Photo
Mitch Johnson, Project Manager of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge, addresses the crowd at the dedication ceremony Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
Lora Rensing, Illinois Department of Transportation Chief Engineer, speaks at the Dedication Ceremony of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
Jamie Burger, Missouri State Senator, speaks at the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Dedication. JIm Beers Photo
Members of the Chester Chambers of Commerce sell “Official” Don Welge Memorial Bridge T-shirts at the Dedication Ceremony Saturday July 11. Shirts are still available at Chester City Hall. Jim Beers Photo
David Friess, Illinois State Representative, was one of several speakers at the dedication of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Jim Beers Photo
Tom Welge, son of the late Don Welge, was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
Members of the Perryville Chamber of Commerce pose for a photo while selling Don Welge Memorial Bridge T-shirts Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
Visitors to the Don Welge Memorial Bridge Dedication Ceremony make the long walk from the drop off station at the bridge to the middle of the bridge where the ceremony took place. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured is the VIP Parking Area which was located under the bridge construction zone. Heavy rains the night before the Dedication Ceremony of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge made the area somewhat wet and mushy in certain areas, but shuttle busses made it safe and mostly comfortable traveling up to bridge level. Jim Beers Photo
Past and Present: Pictured in the background is the current Chester Bridge. The picture is taken from the brand-new Don Welge Memorial Bridge which was dedicated Saturday July 11. Jim Beers Photo
“The Duke” Pictured is David Duke, Construction Manager for the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. Mr. Duke has become a familiar face around the City of Chester since the bridge project started back in 2023. In this photo, David seems to be expressing a bit of relief now that the bridge is nearly completed. This photo was taken just prior to the start of the Dedication Ceremony for the new bridge. Jim Beers Photo
Dr. Jim Beers and wife Vicky Beers covered the Dedication Ceremony of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge for Donze Communications Saturday July 11. Both enjoyed the program immensely and report that the entire event was well organized, professionally managed, and very educational and entertaining. Beers covered the ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge back in 2023 and was extremely proud of the bridge that resulted from the hard work and commitment put forth by Ames Construction and Parsons Transportation Group. Will Welge Photo