Amelia Earhart Bridge project update...

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Here's a KDOT release regarding the status of the new Amelia Earhart bridge on US 59 in Atchison.

The new Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge (AE) was scheduled to open to traffic in late September 2012, but that date has now been rescheduled to late October 2012. Crews are currently completing falsework for the remaining bridge deck located on the arch span section (see photo below). Due to some delays with the steel stringer installation work on the bridge deck, the bridge deck pour has been delayed thus moving the opening date to late October 2012, weather permitting.

As a reminder you can view the ongoing project progress on construction of the new bridge via webcam images available online. The images which are refreshed every 15 minutes can be viewed at www.ksdot.org/aebridge. Viewers can also view the time-lapsed images in sequential order for an extended period of time if they wish.

The Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge, a four-lane, tied arch structure will stretch nearly 2,500 feet, distinguished by its double steel arches on the main river span and special aesthetic lighting. It will replace the existing two-lane structure, which was completed in 1938 and is too narrow to handle some of today's larger truck loads and farm implements. The extra lanes also will accommodate the greater numbers of vehicles that now pass over the bridge daily. The removal of the existing bridge is scheduled for early 2013.

The AE bridge replacement is a cooperative project funded KDOT and the Missouri Department of Transportation. Of the $59.4 million construction cost, Kansas will contribute $30.6 million and MoDOT will contribute $28.8 million.

KDOT urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and "Give "˜Em a Brake!"  when approaching and driving through the project work zone. For more information on the AE Bridge Project, please contact Kimberly Qualls, Northeast Kansas Public Affairs Manager, at (785) 640-9340, or Michelle Anschutz, Horton Construction Engineer, at (785) 486-2142.