The historic 6,442-foot-long Eads Bridge in St. Louis, MO, has spanned the Mississippi River since 1874. As part of a $7.6 million project for the MetroLink light rail system (METRO), STV provided design services for the new East Riverfront interlocking system to control single-track train travel over the bridge.

The structural, trackwork, and communications systems designs provided by STV were each conceived to upgrade the project while retaining the bridge’s historic architecture in accordance with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. STV designed a 29-foot ballasted steel girder span to support new trackwork and equipment for the asymmetrical, double crossover interlock, and designed signal house upgrades and contact systems. The team completed 30 percent of the design-build assignment in less than three months, with the final design and bid package completed just three months after.