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Issue: 1027 Date: 4/29/2010
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Regional Leaders Attend New Mississippi River Bridge Groundbreaking Ceremony
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| (from left) MoDOT Director Pete Rahn, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig, and St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern. |
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On Monday, April 19th government, community and civic leaders gathered for the official groundbreaking of the New Mississippi River Bridge (NMRB). U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kit Bond (R-MO), U.S. Representatives Jerry Costello (D, IL-12), John Shimkus (D, IL-19), Lacy Clay (D, MO-1) and Russ Carnahan (D, MO-3), St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, MoDOT Director Pete Rahn and IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig participated in the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the NMRB's construction.
The NMRB was lauded as a long-term strategic investment in the region that will spur economic development and create jobs. U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello said, " This is about jobs. It's about economic development. It's about reducing congestion. It's about getting commerce from one coast to the other coast in the United States." U.S. Senator Kit Bond also touted the project's ability to spur growth, saying, "This bridge will drive economic development in the bi-state region for years to come." U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood thanked Costello and Bond for their tireless efforts to move the project forward, and suggested that the bridge be named in their honor. Both lawmakers are key supporters of the NMRB and helped secure critical federal funding for the project.
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| U.S. Senator Kit Bond |
Rendering of the New Mississippi River Bridge, courtesy of MoDOT. |
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