ST. LOUIS – Building up from the Mississippi River to its peaks, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge has taken hundreds of workers, millions of dollars and four years of construction before opening in February.
The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge spans the mighty Mississippi River, just north of downtown St. Louis. It's the city's first new bridge built over the river in 50 years.
KSDK photographer Jim Tuxbury documented the great and tragic moments that came to pass, which aired in the documentary, Landmark of Legends, Thursday evening.
Tuxbury introduced viewers to the men who helped create the third largest cable-stayed bridge in the country. He also showcased how before a piece of concrete could be set, an archaeological dig and construction on the river's bed floor had to be done.
St. Louis has a long history of bridges, including the almost 200-year-old Eads Bridge that connects Missouri and Illinois. When a bridge of this magnitude gets constructed, all of its connecting pieces have to get there somehow. Also find out how some of the work for the bridge happens miles away.
During the building of the base of the bridge, students in a dual engineering program between the University of Missouri St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis got to witness first-hand projects that they will do throughout their career. Plus, once the base of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is built, then the towers have to go up.
Taking on a project such as building a bridge isn't always the safest job. During the construction of the bridge, Andy Gammon fell into a river and died. Tuxbury spoke to Gammon's parents about his career and the person he was. Plus, the "Stan Span" has height but now it starts to gain width.
Putting the last piece of iron onto the bridge proved a bittersweet moment for workers as it was many workers' last day on the job and a celebration commemorated that day. But now the bridge can be seen from a number of place around town.
With the final preparations for the bridge underway, Brian Schwarze who is grandson of legendary St. Louis Cardinals player Stan "the Man" Musial gets a chance to climb to the top and see the views of the bridge.
Finally after months of planning, work and dollars spent, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge opens to the public and commuters.
