Missouri Route 51/Illinois Route 150 is scheduled to close the morning of Sept. 28 for the implosion of the Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River, weather permitting. For the safety of motorists and the demolition team, all roadways within 1,000 feet of the bridge will be closed during the controlled explosion. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟵 𝗮.𝗺.
Once the area is secured, the demolition team will use a controlled explosion to drop the bridge into the river. 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻.
In case of inclement weather, the blast could be delayed that morning or rescheduled to the morning of Sept. 29. Updates will be released, if needed.
A designated viewing location will be available at the boat landing on the Illinois side of the river. The City of Chester will provide bus transportation from Cole Memorial Park (100 Pool Drive) and Cohen Complex (3402 Bodes Lane) to the viewing location. Drones are prohibited.
The blast itself will only last a moment. Strategic charges will be placed at specific locations on the structure to drop the bridge straight down, rather than allowing it to twist or fall sideways. The charges will also be placed to break the bridge into sections that can be lifted by cranes. Following the implosion, the demolition team will work to remove the truss pieces from the river within 48 hours, allowing the river channel to reopen to boat and barge traffic.
𝗧𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁. 𝟮𝟴.