Opening Of I-74 Bridge In Quad Cities Is Near
The Quad Cities region is eagerly awaiting the final opening of a project that has taken four and a half years to complete: the I-74 highway bridge over the Mississippi River.
On November 15, bridge officials, in conjunction with the Illinois and Iowa departments of transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the Quad Cities communities, announced that they anticipate the bridge fully opening to Illinois-bound traffic in early December. They also announced a public opening celebration taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. December 1, allowing attendees to be the first to set foot on the bridge before its opening to road traffic. The ceremony will be accessible only from the Moline, Ill., side of the bridge.
The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge project is part of a regional strategy for improving access across the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. It includes the replacement of the I-74 twin bridges over the Mississippi River, interchange ramp reconfigurations and interstate and local roadway improvements.
The bridge replacement was the top project for local development groups, including the Bi-State Regional Commission and the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Quad Cities area. The Record of Decision that gave the project federal approval to proceed was signed in 2009.
Construction began in July 2017. The new bridge will be more than twice as wide as the existing bridge, providing four lanes in each direction. A multi-use path on the bridge will connect to paths in Bettendorf and Moline. Between Middle Road in Bettendorf and Avenue of the Cities in Moline, I-74 will be expanded to three lanes in each direction with additional lanes at select locations.
Beginning November 29, weather permitting, a new off-ramp to Grant Street/U.S. 67 (Exit 4) is opening for motorists on Illinois-bound I-74. The new ramp will allow motorists to exit directly to Grant Street/U.S. 67 rather than Kimberly Road.
At the end of the new off-ramp, motorists will be able to turn right or left on Grant Street/U.S. 67.
Tower cranes that helped with bridge construction are being removed. Video of their removal is available on the bridge’s project website at https://i74riverbridge.com/newsroom/.
