New bridge over Mississippi River set to open in southern Illinois

After three years of construction, a new bridge spanning the Mississippi River is nearing completion between Chester, Illinois and Perryville, Missouri, with traffic expected to shift onto the new structure in July.

The new cable stayed bridge will replace the current Chester Bridge, which has connected the two communities since 1942. 

WFCN said that according to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the new bridge was designed with wider lanes, shoulders and a flatter roadway grade. It'll carry more than 7,000 vehicles per day across the river.

The July 11 celebration is expected to include several public events before traffic is eventually shifted onto the new bridge.

Once traffic is moved onto the new bridge, a controlled explosive demolition of the old truss bridge is expected to begin later this year in multiple phases. 

Construction on the approximately $284 million project began in 2023 and is jointly funded by Missouri and Illinois.

See a video of the construction progress at WFCN .