Postcards from the
turn of the century show the citizens of St. Louis strolling on Eads Bridge in
their Sunday best. The bridge was a
popular spot on a summer day to escape the heat of the city while watching the
bustle of riverboats unloading goods onto the cobblestone wharf.
A bi-state collaboration is attempting to recapture that magic and draw
tourists and residents back to the region's heritage: the Mississippi River.
Led by the Mayors of St. Louis and East St. Louis, the group wants to
expand on existing plans for repairing the deck of the bridge so that it can be
used as a pedestrian promenade on weekends.
Because
of it’s innovate engineering and architectural significance, Eads Bridge is a
National Historic Landmark, and, therefore, a Heritage River project of national
significance. It was the first
major bridge in the region, and is one of the most significant, still standing,
original pieces of history that is directly associated with the westward
expansion of our country. Constructed
between 1867 and 1874, Eads Bridge was the first steel arch bridge, the largest
bridge of its time and the first major project to utilize pneumatic
(pressurized) caissons in the U.S. The
use of caissons, which resulted in the country’s first incidence of
caisson’s disease (the bends) and the death of 14 men, allowed the bridge
piers and abutments to be secured more than 100 feet below the surface, deeper
than any U.S. or European bridge had been attempted at that time.
Eads
Bridge was constructed to carry passenger vehicles on the top deck and rail
traffic on the lower deck. The
bridge has been closed to auto traffic since 1991, and a light rail transit line
now runs on the lower deck. The
upper deck has recently been removed, and construction is beginning to replace
the deck so that it can be reopened for auto and pedestrian traffic.
Current bridge renovation plans provide for a narrow lane of pedestrian
traffic that is separated from auto traffic by concrete barriers.
This design was proposed to minimize construction costs, but it is not
aesthetically pleasing, and it provides limited access for non-motorized
traffic. Funding is being sought to
improve the quality and extent of pedestrian and bicycle access.
Decorative steel railing
is proposed as an alternative to the concrete barriers in the current project
design. In addition to providing a
more historically and aesthetically appropriate match to the bridge structure,
the railing will meet federal highway safety standards for auto traffic.
The proposed construction of pedestrian trails will provide linkages from
the bridge to communities on both sides of the river, including access to the
St. Louis Arch grounds and light rail stations.
Interpretative signage installed at eight locations on and near the
bridge will provide historical and ecological information on the bridge and
local area.
Promenade
use of Eads bridge, in addition to satisfying pedestrian and bicycle
transportation needs, will create a regional downtown destination that unites
the local communities while helping to revitalize the decaying downtown area.
Improved pedestrian connections between light rail transit and the
riverfront areas on both shores (including
the Arch) will provide economic development opportunities for St. Louis and East
St. Louis and motivate increased transit use.
A recent poll shows that there would be 1.6 million annual visits to the
promenade from local residents; combine this with 4 million tourists at the Arch
who will have reason to stay longer, and a significant economic influx to the
area is apparent. Eads bridge
improvements compliment current downtown revitalization efforts, including the
plan to build a new convention center hotel in St. Louis, which would increase
the number of visitors to the area by thousands.
This
prime location at the heart of the St. Louis metropolitan area provides a
dramatic and high impact venue from which to interpret national and regional
heritage associated with the Mississippi River. The educational opportunities run the gamut from river
ecology to cultural heritage to entrepreneurial initiative. These and other themes will raise awareness and build civic
pride in the Mississippi River and the St. Louis region. Redevelopment of nearby underutilized areas in an
environmentally appropriate manner is an anticipated outcome.
Re-use
of Eads Bridge in a manner that integrates multi-modal use will build upon this
impressive landmark to unite the region, alleviate traffic congestion and
provide an impetus for sustainable growth focused on the urban core of the St.
Louis region.
·
City of St. Louis (POC: Barry
Williams, 314-622-3746)
·
City of East St. Louis (TEA-21
sponsor, POC: Mayor Debra Powell, 618-482-6601)
·
St. Clair County, Illinois (TEA-21
sponsor, POC: John Baricevic, 618-277-6600)
·
Regional Chamber and Growth
Association (POC: Freeman McCullah, 314-444-1155)
·
Illinois Department of
Transportation (POC: Mari Lami, 618-346-3112)
·
Missouri Department of
Transportation (POC: Steve Knobbe, 314-340-4100)
·
Trailnet/Confluence Greenway (POC:
Ted Curtis, 314-436-9930)
·
McKnight Foundation (POC: Dan Ray,
612-333-4220)
·
Southwest Illinois Resource
Conservation &Development (POC: Ed Weilbacher, 618-566-4451)
·
Gateway Parks and Trails 2004 (POC:
Bob Hall, 314-487-2144)
·
Landmarks Association (POC: Carolyn
Toft, 314-421-6474)
·
Metropolis (POC: Matt O’Leary,
314-773-7333)
The total cost estimate
for pedestrian improvements to Eads Bridge is $8.9 million.
The decorative railing comprises the largest and most time sensitive
component of the project expense at $3.5 million.
Approximately $350,000 has been pledged to the project through private
donations and could be applied towards this cost.
Linkages between the bridge and the Illinois and Missouri riverfronts
including access to the Arch grounds are estimated to cost $1.5 million and $2
million, respectively. Federal
highway enhancement funding applications (TEA-21s) have been submitted to cover
the costs on the Illinois side, and applications to cover Missouri costs will be
submitted in September 2000. The
remaining aspects of the project do not have funding sources at this time. These include decorative lighting costs ($1.5 million) and
costs for bridge and river heritage interpretation (estimated at $400,000).
The
design phase of this project is underway. Funds
are being sought to implement the construction phase of the project.
Funds for the railing ($3.5 million) must be in place by August 22, 2000
in order for the project to proceed. Funding
for other aspects of the project are less time sensitive.
It is expected that the entire project will be completed by 2004.
Federal
grants are needed to provide funding for construction aspects of the project.
Funds for the railing is the highest priority.
Funds for decorative lighting and bridge and river heritage
interpretation are also needed.
·
Proposed Champion – U.S.
Department of Transportation
·
Advisory Council for Historic
Preservation
·
National Park Service
U.S. EPA Metro East
Sustainable Growth
White House Task Force on
Livable Communities
U.S. Senate Smart Growth
Task Force
Economic Revitalization Act
National Historic
Preservation Act
Submitted
by:
Owen D. Dutt
Upper Mississippi River
Navigator
American Heritage Rivers
Initiative
U.S. Army Engineer District
1222 Spruce Street
St. Louis, MO 63103-2833
314-331-8450 (phone)
owen.d.dutt@mvs02.usace.army.mil
(email)
|
|
|
Eads Bridge looking
west across the Mississippi River to the Gateway Arch and downtown St.
Louis, MO. |
Artist drawing
of proposed improvements to Eads Bridge with steel railings and
decorative lighting.
