Chicago Construction News staff writer
Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman, along with state and local officials, dedicated the new Westminster Drive bridge over Interstate 57, celebrating a project that honors the armed forces and veterans while boosting regional transportation. The bridge features a patriotic red, white, and blue design resembling the American flag and provides access to the popular Crab Orchard Greenway.
CDR created a patriotic theme for the aesthetic enhancements of the structure. The standard pedestrian sidewalk safety fencing was transformed into an iconic impression of the American flag, created out of multi-colored perforated metal and illuminated at night with red, white, and blue LED light ropes. Emblems of the various branches of the United States Armed Forces are incorporated into the pedestrian sidewalk barrier as well as featured on the miniature wing walls at the four corners of the bridge.
On the other side of the bridge, the parapet continues with the patriotic theme by showcasing clusters of four stars, similar to the pier caps beneath the bridge, all tied together by the noteworthy red bridge beam.
“As the sun sets, the new Westminster Drive bridge becomes more than just a bridge – it illuminates as a radiant tribute to our nation’s heroes,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “By enhancing connectivity and safety in the region, Westminster Drive exemplifies how infrastructure improvements can uplift communities across Illinois.”
The $7.3 million bridge replaces an outdated structure and raises the clearance over I-57 by approximately 2.5 feet, meeting the latest safety and design standards. The 200-foot-long overpass includes a 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bicycle path connecting the Crab Orchard Greenway, a 20-mile regional multiuse trail enhancing recreation and transportation in Marion, Herrin, Carterville, Crainville and Carbondale, as well as the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and John A. Logan College.
Located west of the Marion VA Medical Center, the bridge’s fencing features a design representing the American flag, made from multicolored perforated metal and illuminated at night with red, white and blue LED ropes. Emblems of the U.S. Armed Forces are incorporated into the bike and pedestrian sidewalk barrier and at the four corners of the bridge.
Rebuild Illinois, passed in 2019, is investing $33.2 billion over six years into the state’s transportation system, aiming to create jobs and promote economic growth. It is the largest capital program in state history and the first to encompass all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
