New Mississippi River bridge opens at Chester

Officials from Illinois and Missouri joined residents of Chester and Perryville for the grand opening celebration of the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge on Saturday. 

The new $307.1 million cable-stayed bridge across the Mississippi River was opened with a 5K run, then for others to walk across the new structure before formal ceremonies at noon.

The replacement for the 1942 Chester Bridge eventually opened to vehicles after 1 p.m.

The new span is exactly double the width of the old bridge, with 10-foot shoulders alongside each 12-foot wide driving lane.

The extra width will allow vehicles to pull off to the shoulders should minor accidents occur. It will also give farmers with equipment more available room to travel across the bridge in either direction without police assistance. 

Construction of the new bridge began in September 2023.

The bridge was funded with 85% federal money, and the rest split between Illinois and Missouri.

A date for the demolition of the old bridge was not announced. 


(Photo: Chester Chamber of Commerce/Ames Construction)