February 17, 2014

Snow and ice did not keep great things from happening in the region! From the opening of the Stan Musial Veteran Memorial Bridge to expansions across Southwestern Illinois, the region is experiencing positive growth. Let's keep the momentum moving forward as we march into March 2014.

Read on for more and have a great week!

Ellen

Ellen Krohne

Executive Director, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

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Unions contribute 1.75 million man-hours building bridge complex

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

A big reason that the $660 million Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge complex is being delivered on time and on budget is due to labor, according to Terry Nelson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Carpenters' District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity. Union workers contributed nearly 1.75 million man-hours in the construction of the entire project. All of that work went so smoothly in large part due to Project Labor Agreements that were worked out between the parties up front, according to Jeff Church, project implementation engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation's District 8 in Collinsville. (Read More)

Massman Traylor Alberici team completes fast-track "Stan Span" project

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

One hundred and 40 years after the Eads Bridge first connected Missouri and Illinois, the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is open for traffic. Construction of the bridge itself was the job of a joint venture comprised of Kansas City, Mo.-based Massman Construction, Traylor Bros., Inc. from Evansville, Ind., and Alberici Constructors, Inc. of St. Louis. Massman was the project sponsor. (Read More)

Kaskaskia Engineering Group is ultimate team player on bridge project

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

Over the past five years Kaskaskia Engineering Group has been involved in many facets of the new Mississippi River bridge project, working on multiple engineering teams. To speed up the project, the Illinois Department of Transportation split the Illinois work into three pieces and selected different engineering firms for each piece. There was the Illinois approach structure that ran from Interstate 55 to the new bridge; the relocation of I-70 bridges including the interchange with relocated Illinois Route 3; and there was the "Tri-Level" where I-64 and I-55 come together and I-70 splits off to run west to the bridge.

(Read More)

Keeley & Sons built much of Illinois side of Stan Span complex

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

As you've driven west to St. Louis over the last four years - whether on Interstate 55/70 or I-64 - it's been hard not to see Keeley & Sons of East St. Louis hard at work. That's because the company has played such a huge role in the construction of the various components of the New Mississippi River Bridge project on the Illinois side. (Read More)

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly designed components on both sides of the river (Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, Inc. began its work on the new Mississippi River bridge project in late 2008. By the end of 2009, CMT's engineers had completed their design. Greg Law is CMT's highways and bridges group manager in the firm's St. Louis office. He was the project manager for the I-70 interchange on the Missouri side. CMT was the lead engineer on both the Missouri side interchange and the Illinois approach which ran from St. Clair Avenue to connect with the bridge. (Read More)

Lindenwood U gets green light for new Belleville dorm

(St. Louis Business Journal, 2/4/14)

The Belleville City Council on Monday approved exceptions to zoning regulations to allow construction of a new dormitory building for Lindenwood University's Belleville campus. The council approved the exceptions for the first of two planned dorm buildings in the 2300 block of West Main Street, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. (Read More)

Groundbreaking for East Alton redevelopment (Riverbender.com, 2/10/14)

Groundbreaking for the East Alton Defense Area Redevelopment Project - a plan that has been at least a decade in the making - is complete, and it's full speed ahead on the project. New homes will be going up where the old homes are coming down. Local elected and business leaders gathered Monday to celebrate the milestone. (Read More)

Godfrey supports Port District expansion (Riverbender.com, 2/6/14)

The Godfrey Township Board is throwing its support behind a plan to expand the Tri City Regional Port District, also known as America's Central Port in Granite City. The district is looking at expansion, so it is trying to gather as much support from local township governments now that lawmakers have returned to Springfield for the spring session.
(Read More)

Belleville police get new $3.1 million home (Belleville News Democrat, 2/3/14)

The city of Belleville will spend $3.1 million to buy the Bank of Belleville building to serve as the Police Department's new facility. The City Council voted 13-1 on Monday to buy the property on 720 W. Main St. from Parkhill Estates LLC and Richland III LLC. Mayor Mark Eckert said the city will purchase the property with funds from Tax Increment Financing District No. 3 and a short term loan that could last up to three years. More financial details will be available later, Eckert said.

(Read More)

Engineering round up (Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

The latest issue of the Illinois Business Journal includes its annual summary of projects underway by Southwestern Illinois engineering firms, including several Leadership Coucnil members. Check out the complete list here. (Read More)

FGM Architects, Engine House 2, Fairview Caseyville Township Fire Protection District (Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

The Fairview Caseyville Township Fire Protection District needed a new, modern facility to house its volunteer fire department. The district engaged FGM Architects to design a 14,600-square-foot, one-story replacement facility. Engine House 2 is now open at its new location on Ashland Avenue in Fairview Heights. (Read More)

Quality Testing and Engineering, Inc., Wesclin High School, Trenton

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

Quality Testing and Engineering, Inc. is providing geotechnical engineering and construction material testing services for the construction of the new $23.5 million Wesclin High School, part of Wesclin Community School District 3 in Trenton. (Read More)

HomeGoods, Advance Auto Parts coming to Fairview Heights

(Belleville News Democrat, 2/13/14)

A home furnishing store will be the latest to locate to a retail redevelopment underway in Fairview Heights, and an auto supply chain will reoccupy space in an existing shopping center in town. HomeGoods will build a 25,000-square-foot store at the Fairview City Centre, a new shopping center under development near the northwest corner of Illinois 159 and Lincoln Trail. Fairview Heights Economic Development Director Mike Malloy said it could open by August. Advance Auto Parts will open a 6,600-square-foot store in Plaza St. Clair, located just west of Schnucks. The space was last occupied by Mexican restaurant Mariachi's four years ago. The auto parts retailer is expected to open its doors there by next month. (Read More)

Horner & Shifrin, Illinois Route 15/158/13 interchanges, Belleville

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

The Illinois Department of Transportation selected Horner & Shifrin to prepare plans for the reconstruction of Illinois Route 158/Centreville Avenue at the Illinois Route 15 interchange in Belleville. IDOT had been eyeing a solution to ease the congested intersections for some time. In the late 1990s, IDOT staff researched the option of utilizing roundabouts to replace the signalized intersections. (Read More)

Edwardsville relishes growing rep as dining destination

(Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

The new Texas Roadhouse in Glen Carbon and the 1818 Chophouse in Edwardsville are among several popular restaurants to open in the communities in recent times. Some people say the area's attraction as a dining destination has reached a place that now rivals anything in Metro East. Others wonder if the market has reached a saturation point. (Read More)

Q&A with Dr. Dale Chapman, president of Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey (Illinois Business Journal, 2/2014)

Lewis and Clark Community College is leading a consortium of nine community colleges in eight Mississippi River states that have been awarded $23.8 million in federal funds to train and place workers in high-skill transportation, distribution and logistics jobs. LCCC will receive $4.9 million for its part. (Read More)

Leadership Council members associated with projects in this issue

Contact Information

Ellen Krohne, Executive Director, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

618-692-9745

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