2011-2020 Snapshot:

Some infrastructure projects solve a problem. Others redefine a region. The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge project did both.

The striking cable-stayed structure that spans the Mississippi River has become an instant landmark, but its story and its purpose extended far beyond aesthetics. When the bridge finally opened to traffic in February 2014, it was the culmination of nearly 20 years of planning, coordination, and construction between Illinois and Missouri and represented one of the most complex transportation infrastructure projects in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

While the 2,800’ long and 400’ tall bridge served as the centerpiece, the overall project encompassed an extensive network of bridge approaches, tri-level interchanges, direct and indirect flyover ramps, and roadway corridor improvements stretching from the I-55/I-64/I-70 interchange in East St. Louis to Interstate 70 north of downtown St. Louis. By rerouting Interstate 70 away from the heavily congested Poplar Street Bridge, the project improved traffic flow and enhanced connectivity between Illinois and Missouri. Once new traffic patterns were established, IDOT repaired the MLK bridge and portions of the Illinois approaches.

A New Gateway to St. Louis
With a project of this size and complexity, the effort included dozens of individual construction contracts, multiple agencies, and countless engineering challenges, all while maintaining traffic through one of the busiest transportation corridors in the Midwest.

TWM was fortunate to be involved and contribute to this landmark project across multiple disciplines and throughout multiple phases of construction. Over several years, our geospatial and structural engineering teams worked closely with contractors across the project corridors. Together, they provided the technical expertise needed to bring complex bridge and roadway improvements from concept to reality while keeping safety, accuracy, and efficiency at the forefront.

TWM’s geospatial professionals also provided critical construction layout services for bridges, ramps, and roadway improvements throughout the project. Their work included drilled shaft layout, bridge substructure positioning, bearing layouts, ramp superelevation control, and detailed field measurements used during bridge deck construction. On one bridge, TWM used LiDAR scanning technology to monitor an existing structure while piles were driven nearby. This innovative approach allowed engineers to track potential movement and protect critical infrastructure during construction activities occurring only feet away.

Some of TWM’s largest contributions came through construction-phase structural engineering and bridge erection planning. Across multiple contracts, TWM developed erection plans for more than 18 million pounds of structural steel and over 35,000′ of bridge girders—equivalent to nearly seven miles of steel.

Each structure brought its own set of challenges, requiring different approaches and specialized erection strategies. TWM developed customized erection plans for a variety of complex structures, including:

  • I-70 Approach (Unit 1) | Long-span plate girder bridges featuring spans exceeding 200 and massive 112” web girders. Temporary support towers were incorporated to safely facilitate construction.
  • I-70 Approach (Unit 3) | A complex curved girder structure with 108” web plates following a 1,953’ radius alignment, which required specialized erection sequencing and planning. In two of the erection steps, girders cantilevered over 110’ beyond the pier to eliminate a temporary tower and save time and cost.
  • I-55 Southbound Ramp to I-70 Westbound & I-64 Westbound Ramp to I-70 Westbound | These curved 80” web girder ramp structures with tight roadway geometry demanded carefully coordinated erection plans to accommodate the tight and challenging radius alignments.
  • MLK Bridge Approach over Relocated IL Route 3, Various Railroads, Missouri Avenue, & I-55 Southbound/I-64 Westbound | This was one of the corridor’s most challenging locations, surrounded by parallel existing ramps and infrastructure. Our team developed an innovative erection plan using temporary bents on existing foundations to safely install single bridge segments within a very tight construction footprint.

MLK Bridge Approach

Balancing Construction & Connectivity
Improving infrastructure without shutting down traffic is a challenging aspect of any major transportation project. To maintain continuous traffic flow and minimize disruptions throughout the corridor, TWM designed temporary shoring systems capable of supporting entire bridge structures and live traffic loads while existing piers were removed and replaced beneath them. This allowed critical transportation routes to remain open during construction—a significant benefit for commuters, freight traffic, and regional mobility.

TWM also developed demolition plans and temporary soil retention systems for multiple project locations to help contractors safely navigate the complexities of rebuilding infrastructure within an active urban corridor.

A Vital Link Between Illinois & Missouri
Twelve years after opening, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge has become one of the most recognizable structures in the St. Louis region. Its distinctive silhouette is visible from miles away, serving as both a transportation link that distributes traffic more efficiently and a symbol of regional investment and economic progress on both sides of the Mississippi River.

For TWM, this project represented the type of work that often goes unnoticed but is essential to delivering successful infrastructure. Across multiple contracts, with multiple contractors, and for nearly a decade of construction activity, our team contributed surveying, geospatial services, structural engineering, erection planning, temporary works design, and construction support that helped bring this landmark project and corridor to life.

Most transformative infrastructure projects are never the result of a single bridge, a single contractor, or a single team. It’s the result of collaboration, innovation, and thousands of engineering decisions working together toward a common goal.

And at TWM, we’re proud to have been part of that story.