Chester, Ill., demolishes historic Mississippi River bridge after 80 years
The historic Chester Bridge, which connected Illinois and Missouri over the Mississippi River since 1942, was demolished via controlled implosion on September 28, 2026. The aging, narrow structure had been replaced by the new Don Welge Memorial Bridge, which opened in late September. The demolition was delayed by a week due to logistical issues with Union Pacific Railroad. While the old bridge was notorious for safety concerns and traffic bottlenecks, its removal marks the end of an era for the community, which celebrated the event with a raffle and commemorative merchandise. Crews now have 48 hours to clear the river channel for barge traffic.