St. Louis | MacArthur Bridge – West Approach Modifications

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis’ (TRRA) MacArthur Bridge (Bridge) carries two railroad tracks across the Mississippi River, connecting St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois and was constructed from 1912 to 1917. The structure is a critical link in the national freight and passenger rail transportation network, currently carrying approximately 84,000,000 gross tons of rail traffic annually, making the Bridge the fourth busiest rail crossing of the Mississippi River in the United States.

The objectives of the Design-Build project were to address transportation challenges by improving an existing clearance restriction caused by the Broadway Avenue truss that causes a 317 mile re-route for dimensional loads, such as hazardous materials re-routes, military equipment, and energy equipment. The Project increased the effective car width accepted on the Bridge from 13’-4” to 15’-0” with the ability to handle a 315,000 lbs. heavy axle loading.