The $63 million bridge will be constructed just upstream from an ageng structure built in 1936 that is nearing the end of its useful life.
The new Route 47 Bridge has been designed by HDR to provide 100 years of service life with limited maintenance. It will be constructed using variable depth, haunched steel girders and fluted bridge piers with architectural details.
The new bridge includes two 3.65m driving lanes, 3m shoulders and a 3m-wide shared-use path with a scenic viewing area at the centre of the bridge. The shared-use path also serves as a connection between the city of Washington, Missouri, to one of the longest continuous bicycle trails in the USA.
As part of the project, the city of Washington is investing in 587 decorative lighting fixtures comprising 15,954 individual LED lights, which will illuminate the piers, girders and shared-use path for travellers entering the city at night.
Construction will begin this summer and the new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by November 2018.