Missouri, Illinois DOTs seek public input on new location for Champ Clark Bridge

Updated May 24, 2016
Champ Clark Bridge, Pike County, Missouri and Pike County, IllinoisChamp Clark Bridge, Pike County, Missouri and Pike County, Illinois

The Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation are seeking public comments on the environmental assessment for a location for the new Champ Clark Bridge to span the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Missouri.

The current Clamp Clark Bridge, also know as the US 54 bridge, is a five-span truss design built in 1928 and is 2,238 feet long. It is closed for a few days each year for a full-depth inspection and is considered functionally obsolete.

An in-person presentation on the environmental assessment will be made in person June 9 in Louisiana, Missouri, but all details, including how to comment, are available at www.champclarkbridge.com.

“Funding for a new bridge has been included in Missouri’s draft five-year transportation program,” says Brian Haeffner, Missouri DOT area engineer. The draft program will be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission at its meeting on July 7 in St. Louis.

“We are accepting comments about projects in the program until June 10,” Haeffner adds.  Comments can be submitted online at [email protected].

“Millions of dollars has been spent to keep the bridge safely open for its users, and we are pleased we are closer to making a new bridge a reality,” Haeffner says.

The Champ Clark Bridge is one several bridges the Missouri DOT is making available for donation to a state, local or private entity. Federal requirements mandate any historic bridge proposed for demolition by a state be made available. More details on the agency’s “free bridge” program are available here.