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Chester Bridge is getting a major facelift

The 80-year-old bridge carries more than 7,000 drivers each day across the Mississippi River on Route 51.

CHESTER, Ill. — "It's a freaky bridge to drive," 5 On Your Side viewer Alicia D. in Perryville, Missouri, said. 

She's talking about the Chester Bridge, which connects Chester, Illinois, to Perryville. It carries more than 7,000 drivers each day across the Mississippi River on Route 51.

Although the 80-year-old bridge is high up and has passed inspections in recent years, it feels a little rickety. But soon, drivers will have a brand new Chester Bridge, called the Don Welge Memorial Bridge. The new bridge is named after a former Chester resident and bridge enthusiast.

"We are proud of the partnership with Missouri to replace and upgrade another of our border bridges, which are essential to the economy and livelihood of the entire Midwest," Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. "Along with IDOT, the Missouri Department of Transportation out of Sikeston, Missouri, is jointly paying for and collaborating on construction of the new bridge."

The Don Welge Bridge is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 1, 2026. The old Chester Bridge will no longer be in service.

Do you have a traffic or travel story like the Chester Bridge that you want to shed some light on? Reach out to Paul Cook at pcook1@ksdk.com.

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