September 3 - The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) has advised that permitted loads are now allowed access to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Mississippi River between St. Clair County, Illinois and St. Louis,
The cable-stayed bridge, which measures 854.4 m long and 121.9 m tall, was built between April 2010 and July 2013, and opened on February 9, 2014.
The importance of allowing permitted loads on the new bridge was brought to SC&RA's attention by St. Louis area members. Permit access will save SC&RA members, particularly those accessing downtown St. Louis, as much as 70 extra miles per trip.
SC&RA credits Department of Transportation (DOT) officials from both Missouri and Illinois for considering requests from SC&RA and its members to open the bridge to permitted loads.
"This is another example of state government officials listening to the concerns of industry and finding a reasonable solution that results in safety and efficiencies for all concerned," said SC&RA vice president Steven Todd.
