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Ground Broken On New Boone Bridge

MODOT

Ground was broken Thursday on the new Daniel Boone Bridge just west of Chesterfield.

The $111 million project will replace a 75-year-old span over the Missouri River and link St. Louis and St. Charles Counties.

MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger says the bridge is the final project to make I-64 a true, interstate-quality, highway.

“We’re thrilled today to start on the project,” Hassinger says. “The design is about 90 percent complete and you’re going to see people starting work on the ground this month. The plan is that we’ll have the new bridge open in 2014.”

Chesterfield Mayor Bruce Geiger says project will be a major upgrade over the original bridge built in 1935.

“This is a long awaited project,” Geiger says. “I know the residents of St. Louis County, and especially Chesterfield, are excited for easier access for all of those St. Charles people coming to Chesterfield to shop.”

The current bridge is actually made up of two separate spans, the original built in 1935 and the other in 1980.

When the new eastbound bridge is complete, sometime in 2014, the original 1935 bridge will be torn down.

Follow Adam Allington Twitter:  @aallington