State to spend $25 million on East St. Louis bridge
EAST ST. LOUIS — The state of Illinois will be spending about $25 million to make it easier, safer and quicker to travel between Illinois and Missouri on the Poplar Street Bridge at East St. Louis.
In a news release on Monday, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced an investment officials say will not only reduce traffic congestion but improve access to businesses in the East St. Louis area.
According to the release, once the new I-70 Mississippi River Bridge opens in early 2014, workers will begin reconstructing the Poplar Street West interchange. A number of steps will be taken to improve access to and from the bridge.
The project is a collaboration between the transportation departments in Illinois and Missouri and the East-West Gateway Council of Government.