ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Department of Transportation will celebrate the opening of the new bridges at Compton Ave. and Market St. at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30.

Who:  MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger will be the master's of ceremony.  Officials scheduled to speak at the ceremony include:  Angel McCormick, office of U. S. Senator Jim Talent; Charlie Barnes, office of U.S. Senator Christopher Bond; Darryl Piggee, office of U.S. Congressman William Clay, Jr., State Senator Maida Coleman; Representative Robin Wright-Jones; Alderman Lewis Reed; Kathy Hale, office of Mayor Francis Slay; Bill Seaton, Vice President of Engineering /Facilities, Sigma Aldrich and Charles T. Gooden, Harris-Stowe State University.

What:  Crews will open the new bridges at Compton Ave. and Market St. to motorists on Wednesday, August 30 immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The bridge replacement project was awarded to Fred Weber, Inc. for $11 million and originally scheduled to be complete in December 1, 2006.

Where:  The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. with the media and the public invited to attend.  This celebration will be held on the north end of the new Compton Ave. Bridge located at I-64 and Market St.    Directions:  If you are traveling eastbound on I-64 exit onto Grand Blvd. (37b) make a right (South) to Laclede make a right (East) got to Compton Ave., make a right (South) and proceed to the bridge.  If you are traveling westbound on I-64 you can exit onto the Market St. exit (38b) and it will take you to 3000 Market St. and turn left on Market St.  Proceed west until you reach the Compton Ave. Bridge.  Click here to view the ceremony map.

Why:  Opening both bridges is great news for the city of St. Louis motorists.  Completed three months ahead of schedule, providing access to major businesses in the community these bridges are a part of MoDOT's ongoing commitment to transportation excellence. 

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