Missouri approves funds for Daniel Boone Bridge project

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in the US has approved $120 million in funding for a new span of the Daniel Boone Bridge across the Missouri River between St. Louis and St. Charles counties.The new bridge is estimated to cost about $128.7 million and will be constructed similar to the I-64 project in St. Louis. The Missouri Department of Transportation will award the design-build contract in the next year.The current bridge is comprised of twin cantilever bridges handling traffic flow in opposite directions.The exact location of the bridge will be determined as part of the contract, but an environmental impact statement earlier approved proposed a new bridge near the existing eastbound bridge.Upon completion, the new bridge will carry eastbound traffic and a protected bike-pedestrian lane between the Chesterfield and Katy trails, while the current eastbound bridge would carry westbound traffic.Construction on the new bridge is expected to begin in 2013.Daniel Boone Bridge project forms part of the 2012-2017 State Transportation Improvement Plan, at about $600 million per year, passed by the commission.