Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Wednesday, July 2, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will send Missouri $7 million to repair the Poplar Street bridge in St. Louis.

"After 35 years of heavy traffic it's time for the Poplar Street bridge to get a little more attention from the federal government," said Bond, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that authorizes all federal highway projects and a senior member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. "These dollars will fund some much-needed repairs."

Funds will be used to rehabilitate the Poplar Street bridge, which is 35 years old and in a constant state of disrepair. The pavement on the ramps will be entirely replaced and will also replace guardrail and concrete median barrier. The ramps that will be repaired include: the northbound Interstate 55 ramp to eastbound Poplar Street Bridge; eastbound Interstate 70 ramp to eastbound Poplar Street Bridge; Poplar Street Bridge ramp to westbound Interstate 70; and Poplar Street Bridge ramp to southbound Interstate 55. The repair work should allow the ramps to stay functional for another 15 years.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.