SIKESTON, Mo. – The Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the Don Welge Memorial Bridge on Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River at the newly constructed bridge.
photo by Charlie Bargman The Don Welge Memorial Bridge spans the Mississippi River and connects Perryville, Missouri, and Chester, Illinois via Missouri Route 51/Illinois Route 150.
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 project features a three-tower, cable-stayed bridge and represents a combined investment of approximately $307.1 million by MoDOT and IDOT.
The towers of the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge as it appeared Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. with the moon shining down on it. The current bridge can be seen behind the new bridge. Click here for a current image: https://share.earthcam.net/tJ90CoLmq7TzrY396Yd88LwKtQWJ8LljhD6IqaTWGeQ!.tJ90CoLmq7TzrY396Yd88G9CpgRdFzh1u8qxm6hpiSs!/chester_bridge/illinois_camera/view_1 (Photo by EarthCam)
Event Schedule
A separately organized 5K run/walk will begin at 7 a.m. on the bridge. Only registered participants will be allowed on the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge prior to 9 a.m.
Following the race event, the bridge will be open to the public during the following times: • 9 to 11 a.m. – Public bridge walk • 11 a.m. to noon – Bridge opening ceremony and ribbon cutting • Noon to 1 p.m. – Public bridge walk
Parking and Shuttle Information Public parking will be available at the Perryville Regional Airport, 1856 Highway H, Perryville, Missouri and at Cohen Complex, 3402 Bodes Lane, Chester, Illinois. Shuttle buses will transport visitors to and from the event site beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing through the conclusion of the events. Individuals with mobility concerns may contact MoDOT at (573) 380-5305 for parking assistance.
Visitor Information • Public access to the bridge will begin at 9 a.m. • Pets, large or hard-side coolers, alcohol or glass bottles are not permitted. • Skateboards, inline skates, skate shoes, scooters, and other recreational vehicles are prohibited. • Drones are prohibited.
A MoDOT official, Brian Okenfuss, said the bridge will be open to southbound traffic on July 13th, with the northbound lane to open before the end of July.
Okenfuss said the bridge is being completed on time and on budget.
Unfortunately, Okenfuss reported there will be no decorative or roadway lighting on the bridge, due to engineering challenges. However, it will have navigation lighting for river traffic with the piers lit up by lights installed under the bridge deck.
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