Welcome to the I-270 Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge Project
The
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is constructing a new bridge
over the Chain of Rocks Canal. The project includes levee construction, bridge
construction, bridge demolition, pavement removal, Interstate highway
construction on a new alignment and partial interchange reconstruction at IL
Route 3. Also there will be drainage improvements, construction of sign
structures, box culvert construction, and new highway lighting. It should also
be noted that this contract has an executed “Project Labor Agreement”.
The project is located at the crossing of Interstate 270 over the Chain of
Rocks Canal and over the Chain of Rocks Levee, near Granite City. This $104
million project was on the June 17, 2011 letting. Construction began on October 31, 2011 and
the project is estimated to be completed by late fall 2014. In
addition, the new bridge is to be opened to traffic by December 1, 2013.
The Chain of Rocks Canal serves as the navigable channel for all Mississippi
River barge traffic passing through St. Louis, and I-270 is one of the major St.
Louis commuter links between Illinois and Missouri, with an ADT of 54,700 in
2007. The existing twin truss bridges also carry I-270 over the Chain of Rocks
Levee which parallels the canal and is owned and operated by the US Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE).
This site will be updated periodically as the project progresses. The
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) wishes to thank you for your
support and patience.
03-25-2013 UPDATE: Erection of structural steel girders between Pier 1 & Pier 2, construction of the Pier 2 concrete stem including forming and rebar placement, construction of Pier 3 footing, construction of drilled shafts in Pier 4. The project is currently approximately 50% complete and a final completion is anticipated in the summer of 2014.
02-14-2013 UPDATE: Erection of structural steel girders
between Pier 1 & Pier 2, installing temporary shoring towers at the
west side of the canal, construction of the Pier 2 concrete stem
including forming and rebar placement, and excavation of the drill
shafts at Piers 3 & 4 on the eastside of the canal. Placement of the
aggregate base has been completed and commencement of Continuous
Reinforced Concrete pavement construction will begin in April
weather permitting. The project is currently approximately 45%
complete and a final completion is anticipated in the summer of
2014.
09-21-2012 UPDATE: Walsh Construction Company is approximately
30% complete with the contract at this time. The IL Rte 3 SB to
I-270 WB and I-270 EB to IL Rte 3 SB ramps have been relocated and
are now in operation. The east Chain of Rocks Levee has been
relocated with final seeding to commence soon. The MSE wall along
the ramp from IL Rte 3S B to I-270 WB is complete. All soil
embankment, new median inlets, and storm sewer for the new alignment
are in place. Degrading of the existing highway alignment and final
storm sewer connectors will take place once traffic is removed from
the existing alignment. Construction of the west bridge abutment is
complete and construction of the east bridge abutment is in
progress. The Pier Cofferdam construction at the west side of the
canal is complete and the Pier Cofferdam construction at the east
side of the canal is in progress. Pier 1 (near the west bridge
abutment) drilled shafts are complete and excavation of the pier 2
drilled shafts (west side of canal cofferdam) are in progress. Steel
Plate girders for the new structure are currently being shipped from
the fabricator to the local storage yards.
07-24-2012 UPDATE: The contractor is continuing to construct the
west as well as the east earth embankments. I-270 eastbound traffic
on Chouteau Island has been shifted to the south onto temporary
pavement to facilitate construction of the new bridge approach
pavement. The majority of the concrete has been placed for the west
abutment, and construction of the piers 1-3 has commenced via the
excavation of drilled shafts at pier 1 and cofferdam construction at
piers 2 & 3. The construction of the retaining wall along the IL 3
ramp to I-270 westbound is approximately 33% complete and final
grading and paving of the relocated IL 3 ramps is underway. The
contractor has commenced delivery of the new structure’s girders to
local storage locations. The contract is approximately 15% complete.
Contract Information
Letting Date: June 17, 2011
Award Date: July 19, 2011
Execution Date: August 1, 2011
Start Date: October 31, 2011
DBE Subcontractors goal: 25%
Project Cost Construction= $104 million
Prime Design Consultant HDR Engineering, Inc., Chicago, IL
Prime Contractor Walsh Construction Company, Chicago, IL
Phase III Consultant Crawford, Murphy & Tilley, Springfield, IL
