The I-44 bridge project at 31st Street was completed in 1996 following less than two years of construction. The original bridges were replaced by a wider bridge that has six lanes and full shoulders with a concrete barrier wall in the center. The eastbound bridge was replaced first, followed by the westbound bridge. Like its predecessor, the new bridge is three spans. The project included widening I-44 to six lanes between Memorial Drive and 31st Street, replacing the I-44 bridges over Memorial Drive, rebuilding the westbound frontage road east of Memorial Drive, building a cul-de-sac on the westbound frontage road on the west side of Memorial Drive and eliminating the street that paralleled Memorial Drive on the west for a short distance north of I-44, and six laning Memorial Drive from 31st Street to just north of I-44. A U-turn was installed for westbound frontage road traffic to access the eastbound frontage road without accessing Memorial Drive, and a new traffic signal was installed at I-44 and Memorial Drive. Photograph taken May 29, 1999.
