Contact: Ernie Blazar 202-224-7627 Shana Stribling 224-0309
Monday, December 17, 2001

KANSAS CITY, MO – Senator Kit Bond today announced the grand opening of the Chouteau Bridge in Kansas City.

“The completion of the Chouteau Bridge is a great example of a federal, state and local partnership that has been a long time in the working,” said Bond, who has secured $11 million for this project. “The new bridge will provide not only traffic relief, but also stimulate economic development and provide safer travel for Kansas City drivers.”

Located in an important industrial part of the city, the Chouteau bridge has always been a major transportation link. Originally constructed in 1887, the old Chouteau bridge became a narrow, and unsafe two-lane roadway. Over the years it became obvious that the bridge no longer met the current needs for the Kansas City area. The need for additional cross-river traffic capacity for Kansas City became increasingly dramatic, threatening the continued growth of the city.

Beginning in 1995, Senator Bond and Mayor Cleaver, along with MODOT, put together a plan for the construction of three bridges across Missouri – Hannibal, Cape Girardeau and Chouteau -- making I-35 a high priority.

Bond has remained committed to the replacement of the Chouteau Bridge since its formative stages. In fiscal year 1999, Bond secured $6 million in funds for the bridge. Again in fiscal year 2001, Bond, as a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, secured an additional $5 million for the project. These latest funds were used to build the approach roadways to the bridge.

“In Washington we continue to work hard to give the citizens of Kansas City and its surrounding communities a helping hand in achieving their local goals,” said Bond.