The Champ Clark Bridge Environmental Assessment has been signed by all necessary parties, which means MoDOT and the Illinois Department of Transportation can now move to the next phase of the project; a step closer to funding and building a new bridge.

“Signing the Environmental Assessment is important because it means the Federal Highway Administration has agreed with our recommended location, which is just to the south of the existing bridge,” explained MoDOT Project Manager Keith Killen.  “The next step is to hold a public hearing providing area residents and other interested parties an opportunity to comment on this location,” he said.  The environmental assessment process is a thorough evaluation of the environmental impacts of various potential locations for the new bridge.  “We have worked with the public, other stakeholders and various agencies to ensure any impacts due to the project can be mitigated, reducing or eliminating any significant impacts,” Killen said.  He added, “The recommended location is the one with the least impacts.”  The final environmental assessment document is available for reading at Final EA Document.

The public hearing date has not been set, but is anticipated to be within the next several weeks. Those who aren’t able to attend the public hearing in person will be able to make comments online.

Killen is also the Project Director of the bridge replacement, which will use the design-build method of procurement.  “Construction funding for the new bridge has not yet been allocated by MoDOT, but we are working diligently to identify the funding source,” he explained.  There will be information about the design-build method at the public hearing.

Information about the Champ Clark Bridge can be found online at www.champclarkbridge.com.  Internet users can sign up for email notifications that are distributed by MoDOT.