Illinois Transportation Secretary Announces Mississippi River Bridge Projects Scheduled for June Letting

Projects Expected to Create Jobs, Enhance Minority Participation and Promote Economic Development

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig announced today four Mississippi River Bridge (MRB) construction projects are scheduled for the June 17, 2011 letting. The projects total more than $55 million and are expected to create more than 100 direct construction jobs and support more than 600 additional jobs through expected economic development.

“We are excited that four more projects have been advertised for the Mississippi River Bridge project,” said Hannig. “These projects will bring additional jobs to the area and boost the regional economy. As we prepare for construction, we are continuing our strong commitment to ensuring these projects include minority and woman contractors in the construction industry.”

The four MRB projects scheduled for the June 17, 2011 letting include:

• $4.5 million contract to construct lighting for the entire MRB project. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal on this contract is 20 percent.
• $35 million contract to construct a new bridge and retaining walls on relocated I-70 from 2nd Street to I-55/70. The DBE goal on this contract is 20 percent.
• $9.5 million grading and drainage contract on relocated I-70 from 1st Street to Industrial Drive. The DBE goal on this contract is 15 percent.
• $6.5 million contract for a new bridge and embankment on relocated I-70 over 1st street. The DBE goal on this contract is 20 percent.

The four projects, totaling $55.5 million, are all state funded and demonstrate the Department’s commitment to enhancing minority participation in state-funded projects.

So far, 95 different Illinois and Missouri-certified DBE companies have received 162 contracts to provide nearly $74 million in design or construction services on MRB projects. In Illinois alone, there have been 83 contracts worth nearly $24 million awarded to DBE firms. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has met or exceeded DBE goals on all MRB projects with an average of 18 percent. Between Illinois and Missouri, there are 31 construction projects needed to build the MRB. To date, 19 projects have been awarded and are either completed or under construction.

As of March 31st, the overall workforce utilization on MRB projects is 23.7 percent minority and 4.6 percent female. The federal workforce participation goals for the MRB project area are 14.7 percent minority and 6.9 percent female. IDOT will continue to work closely with contractors and unions in an effort to ensure all federal workforce goals are met or exceeded.

The MRB project is a joint undertaking by the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation. Construction of the new bridge is expected to result in 2,200 direct and indirect jobs being created in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan area, with 1,200 anticipated to be Illinois-based jobs. The project is expected to spur approximately $25.3 billion in regional economic activity over the next 45 years.

The Mississippi River Bridge will provide congestion relief across the region, especially on the Poplar Street Bridge. The new bridge will be a four-lane, cable stayed structure that will relocate I-70 off the Poplar Street Bridge and move the interstate to its new location halfway between the Martin Luther King Bridge and the McKinley Bridge.

The entire project will cost a total of $749 million and is being funded through a combination of federal and state funds. The MRB project is expected to be completed in January, 2014. For more information about the MRB project, visit www.newriverbridge.org.