A Symbol of Transformation in the Midwest

Made up of quintessential American cities with a long history of visionaries, inventors and entrepreneurs, the Quad Cities has a long history of transformation. With the help of Deere, Buford, Burrows, the Bettendorf brothers and many others, the Quad Cities was put on the map.

It comes as no surprise, then, that the people of the Quad Cities had the perseverance to take the concept of a new I-74 Mississippi River Bridge and make it reality. Many don’t realize how unique it is for cities, let alone cities in two different states, to work toward implementing a shared vision. Countless potentially transformative projects are forgotten or scrapped due to shifts in politics and economics.

Luckily, state and local leadership, and most importantly the communities, remained dedicated to redeveloping their cities and the Quad Cities as a whole. The Quad Cities is in the midst of a major transformation of both its downtowns and the riverfront with an eye toward honoring the local history, landscape and culture that it offers. The new I-74 River Bridge will be a recognizable symbol of the Quad Cities’ successful efforts and will have a lasting impact in the Midwest.

Embracing local history

The existing I-74 bridge, officially named the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge, historically has provided an important east-west link in the nation's transportation network. It crosses the Mississippi River on two separate structures. The westbound bridge, Illinois to Iowa, was completed and opened in 1935. The eastbound bridge, Iowa to Illinois, was completed in 1959 and opened in 1960.

A side-by-side comparison of the existing suspension bridge and new true-arch bridge.

Today, the new design and reconstruction provides not only an improved transportation corridor but also a link to the Quad Cities’ past: The design firm of the original I-74 suspension bridges, Modjeski and Masters, was also on the design team for the new structure.

Embracing culture and environment

The drive to embrace the Mississippi River again began in the ’60s and ’70s with the riverfront being redeveloped and re-envisioned as an area of natural beauty to enhance the Quad Cities and provide recreational opportunities. The new bridge was designed with the environment in mind – not only to provide a safe, efficient transportation route, but also to incorporate the aesthetics of the river. The 164-foot curved arches, Y-shaped piers and nature-inspired design elements represent the rolling waves and importance of the river to the communities.

Iowa and Illinois also have been mindful of minimizing the environmental impact of the bridge construction and related road improvements. After determining that a large number of mussels, which help to improve water quality and are an important part of our ecosystem, inhabit the project area, steps were taken to mitigate the impact of construction on this federally protected species. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies, the states conducted one of the largest mussel relocations in the nation, moving more than 150,000 mussels before the start of construction.

Two States; One Great Future

Many minds came together to bring the I�?74 River Bridge project to life. The Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, in conjunction with the municipalities and the Bi-State Regional Commission, teamed up to address decades-long issues related to the existing bridge and thereby improve safety and traffic flow in the Quad Cities. They had a vision for a state-of-the-art I-74 River Bridge – with safety and innovation leading the design.

Through extensive coordination and public input, the project partners developed a solution that benefits all. Part of a regional strategy for improving access across the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities, the plan includes the replacement of the I-74 bridge as well as interchange ramp reconfigurations and local roadway improvements.

In celebration of the joint efforts of Iowa and Illinois working together toward their shared vision for the future, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner were joined by officials from Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island at the I�?74 River Bridge groundbreaking ceremony in June 2017.

This joint $1.2 billion project will help to reinforce the vitality of the communities it serves and provide enhanced opportunities for those who live, learn, work and play in the Quad Cities. Construction is anticipated to take place over three-and-a-half years, and in the new bridge is anticipated to be open by the end of 2020.

A Design for the Communities

The new I�?74 River Bridge will stand tall, proudly representing efforts to take transportation into the 21st century. After much input from the public, the design of the bridges was selected for its engineering and safety performance, aesthetics and financial feasibility. The project team will construct two bridges – with a true-arch design and 795-foot main span – along a new alignment to the east of the existing bridges, minimizing disruptions to traffic during construction.

A rendering of the new I-74 River Bridge looking south. An elevator will be installed in Bettendorf to allow pedestrians to access the connecting multi-use paths.

An aesthetic theme was created for the corridor representing the connection between the river and the local communities. This theme will be exhibited throughout the corridor in the pattern on the bridge rails, imprints on retaining wall faces, shapes of lighting and other elements. LED light fixtures will be installed on and underneath the mainline and bridge arches for a safer drive and captivating view.

To increase pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, a new 14-foot-wide multi�?use path along the downstream side of the Illinois-bound bridge will be included, along with an elevator in Bettendorf. The multi�?use path will provide new connections to existing paths in Bettendorf and Moline.

A scenic overlook will be installed along the multi-use path.

Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to stop and appreciate the view at the scenic overlook located at the center of the multi-use path. Below their feet, they will find a glass bottom where they can watch the water of the Mississippi River flow.

Full shoulders on both sides of the bridges will improve maintenance operations as well, allowing for easier access for crew members and emergency vehicles, reducing the need for lane closures.

Ready for the Future

The Quad Cities’ communities are growing. Rush-hour congestion is hectic, and safety and reliability are a priority when it comes to getting from point A to point B. With the reconstruction of the I-74 River Bridge comes a slew of benefits to local communities and commuters.

Roadway Capacity and Design Improvements
The new bridge will be nearly double the width of the existing bridge, offering four lanes in each direction. To improve traffic flow and capacity on the rest of I-74, between Middle Road in Bettendorf and Avenue of the Cities in Moline, the roadway will be expanded to three lanes with additional turn lanes in certain locations. Intersection improvements will also be completed.

Increased Safety and Reliability
The unreliability of the existing I-74 bridge has long been a common complaint. With only two lanes and no shoulders, a traffic accident or any maintenance work often requires one, if not both, lanes to be closed, creating long delays for drivers. By adding more lanes, improving on- and off-ramp locations and installing new transportation management technology, the corridor will provide safer, more reliable travel.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Amenities
The Quad Cities has impressive bicycle and pedestrian paths as well as other amenities along the riverfront. The new bridge will incorporate these features by providing a multi-use path connecting the existing paths in Bettendorf and Moline.

Economic Development
Economic vibrancy has become an important focus on both the regional and local level in the Quad Cities. Improving the transportation infrastructure supports efforts by the Bi-State Regional Commission and the municipalities to stimulate economic development. The I-74 River Bridge complements the Quad Cities’ ongoing efforts to build better communities.

Bringing the Quad Cities Together

Many people have come together to make this project happen – from the departments of transportation to the people of the communities of Iowa and Illinois and more. An idea raised from the history of the cities and developed to meet the needs of both driver and pedestrian has expanded into a monumental moment for two states in the Midwest. The Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation, as well as the entire I-74 River Bridge project team, look forward to joining the Quad Cities on this shared journey of transformation.

Catch the latest progress on I74RiverBridge.com and follow the project on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn @I74RiverBridge.

Originally published in Eddy Magazine, October 2017

Newsroom

Archive