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Chester, Ill. bids farewell to historic bridge
KFVS12 • • nation
Key Points:
- The historic Chester, Illinois Bridge over the Mississippi River was demolished Monday morning after decades of service, replaced by the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge.
- The original toll bridge, opened in 1942, faced a major collapse in 1944 due to a severe storm but was rebuilt and reopened in 1946, operating as a toll bridge until the late 1980s.
- The old two-lane bridge was narrow and often caused traffic issues, especially for commercial vehicles and during harvest season, prompting the need for a safer and more efficient replacement.
- The new bridge project involved significant local participation, with about 90% of the construction crew hired locally, and is expected to boost commerce and tourism in Chester, known as the birthplace of Popeye creator E.C. Segar.
- The demolition was marked by a community celebration including a raffle to trigger the implosion, fundraising efforts, commemorative merchandise sales, and plans to preserve parts of the old bridge for historical remembrance.
