A $21.4 million grant will help with the expansion of one of the St. Louis area’s most heavily used bridges, members of the transportation and infrastructure committee said.
Part of the FY Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program, the money will be granted to the Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis to help with the expansion of Merchants Bridge between St. Louis, Miss., and Venice, Ill. Officials said the money will be used to replace the main span trusses of the bridge, increasing its capacity from 38 trains per day to 76 trains per day.
The award was announced by U. S. Reps Rodney Davis (R-IL), Mike Bost (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).
“St. Louis plays a key role in our nation’s rail network, and Merchants Bridge is one of the most important arteries that keeps our freight and passenger rail grid moving,” Davis said. “Merchants Bridge is invaluable to our region, as it supports six Class I railroads, two international cargo airports, and the nation’s third-largest inland port. I’m pleased to see these funds go toward strengthening this crucial piece of our nation’s infrastructure so it can continue supporting our region and economy for many more years.”
In 2018, the TRRA announced that it was borrowing $172 million from Bank of America Merrill Lynch in St. Louis to finance rebuilding the bridge after failing to secure government funding for the project. At the time, the bridge was slated to be usable only for another 10 years, experts said.
“Merchants Bridge was built in 1890 and remains a vital national link for commerce and passenger service,” Bost said in a statement. “The Merchants Bridge Rehabilitation and Reconstruction project will not only provide needed construction jobs but ensure our local businesses in our region remain competitive with their peers.”