ESL breaks ground on $8.1M River Bridge District Project

St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, East St. Louis Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks, and James Nations, chairman of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority (SWIDA), spoke at the groundbreaking for the new the $8.1 million River Bridge District Project in East St. Louis on November 1. Jackson-Hicks said that the minority participation goal for this project are set at 20 percent. 

The project involves a comprehensive, multi-million dollar overhaul of Front Street from Trendley Avenue in East St. Louis to where the road dead-ends in Fairmont City, as well as improvements to connecting roadways. It will open up several hundred acres of undeveloped, newly accessible ground. This infrastructure work will create enhanced access for patrons and employees of the Casino Queen and citizens of East St. Louis, providing separation of the heavy commercial traffic from other normal public movement.

Bungee-SFC, Cargill and Casino Queen have each committed $500,000 for the project. The additional funding is being provided in the form of a $3.5 million grant from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration; a $1.5 million contribution from SWIDA; $900,000 from the St. Clair County Transit District; $500,000 from the Metro East Park and Recreation District; and a $125,000 TARP grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.