ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) — Work to connect the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River is nearly complete.
Watch Live Now: Crews to install last part of the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge
Crews working with the Missouri Department of Transportation carefully slid an 11,000-pound steel edge girder into place on the north side of the bridge. Then, it was time for the girder on the south side. MoDOT officials said the work was going to take most of the day. The pieces actually went into place in a matter of minutes. But, the alignment and bolting took much more time. One girder is not yet secured. I asked a spokesperson from the collaborative firm of Massman, Traylor & Alberici if crews were disappointed they fell behind schedule.
“I don’t know if they would be disappointed,” said Lynne Gebert. “I think they want it right. Everything is so detailed with it, that you have to have it just perfect. So, they’d rather have it perfect. And if it’s going to take time then, that’s what it has to have.”
Engineers said they were excited about this milestone. But, there was still a long list of work left to get the bridge open by early next year.
“Once this is completed, we will set the concrete panels on Saturday,” said Randy Hitt, Mississippi River Bridge Project Director. We have a two-inch concrete driving surface that goes over the entire bridge, barrier walls, the towers will be painted, a lot of electrical work. So, a lot of work to be done.”
The excitement over the progress was bittersweet, however. The crew was missing Andy Gammon. The 35-year-old construction worker died in an accident while working on the bridge in March of 2012. Hitt said Gammon would be proud to see how far the project had come.
“I think anyone in the labor force would be proud of the projects they work on,” he said. “We’re happy to see that a portion of the approach was named in his honor.”
Crews were expected to press ahead on Friday. The first task was to tighten down that remaining girder. The next phase was supposed to start at 9 a.m. Friday. But instead, a 30,000-pound floor beam would be lowered starting at noon.
We are at an old pumphouse near Mullanphy Street east of Broadway. MoDOT invited the public to watch. Officials urge anyone who comes to keep the roads and bike trails clear. Here is a map to the pumphouse.
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