‘Path forward’ – Public considers future of Centennial Bridge

The first steps have been taken in a long journey that will determine the fate of the 85-year-old Centennial Bridge that spans downtown Davenport and Rock Island. Hundreds of Quad Citians attended the first public meeting Thursday, April 17, to discuss the potential plans for repairing or replacing the bridge, scheduling and next steps forward […]

The first steps have been taken in a long journey that will determine the fate of the 85-year-old Centennial Bridge that spans downtown Davenport and Rock Island. Hundreds of Quad Citians attended the first public meeting Thursday, April 17, to discuss the potential plans for repairing or replacing the bridge, scheduling and next steps forward to improving the structure.

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The top goal of that four-hour, open house meeting at the Holiday Inn Rock Island, 226 17th St., was to hear the public’s thoughts on the old bridge and eventually “plan for the path forward,” said Michael Kuehn, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s studies and plans engineer. “Everything is on the table. We just need that push from the community. … The community is going to be living with this (bridge project) for a long time,” he said during a press briefing shortly before Thursday’s public open house. The solution – or “preferred alternative” – for improving the bridge is expected to be selected by the spring of 2027. That solution could be building a new bridge at the same place or near where the Centennial Bridge stands or a “no-build” alternative, which means keeping the Centennial in place, but making extensive repairs. Mr. Kuehn said that the “no-build” option is still a possibility, but the public needs to understand that if that plan is selected, transportation officials will need to continue the current work of doing significant repairs to the aging bridge every couple of years. In the past 10 years, he estimates that about $7 million in repairs have been done to the bridge. “We are going to keep working on that bridge and make sure it’s safe. … It’s an 85-year-old structure. There are things that wear out,” he said. Mr. Kuehn said that one of the key questions the public will need to consider in suggesting solutions to the bridge issue is this: “Do we want to keep doing these repairs, or do something else?” Answering the bridge question is not only vital to improving travel options in the area, but also to benefit the local economy. Denise Bulat, Bi-State Regional Commission executive director, called the bridge an “economic corridor for the entire region” that sees more than 22,000 vehicles every day. But before final decisions are made on the fate of the bridge, transportation officials say that it’s vital they get input from the public. Those comments and questions will help determine the  “preferred alternative” for the Centennial Bridge, said Phil Mescher, a transportation planner with the Iowa Department of Transportation. He gave this example of how public input helps shape projects. During recent planning to eventually replace the Interstate 80 bridge near LeClaire, transportation officials initially had no plans to include a pathway on the new bridge that can be used by bicyclists and pedestrians. But that multi-use pathway was included as part of the new westbound bridge after hearing comments from the public on the need for such a feature. “So, community input will be paramount,” Mr. Mescher added. That community input was made by hundreds of people during Thursday’s meeting. The event was split up into two different rooms on the second floor of the Holiday Inn Rock Island. One room featured a six-minute video being played on loop that outlined much of the process and scheduling for getting to the preferred alternative.  However, most of the crowd gathered in the exhibit area room which featured about 30 posterboards containing information on the bridge project, a whiteboard for the public to write comments and questions, and a box to place written comments. (Go here to place comments, receive information and updates on the bridge project, and see the display materials.) Within the first half hour of the open house, at least 75 people filled the exhibit room. The exhibit materials focused on the three phases and other factors of the project including:

• Phase One: Preliminary engineering and an environmental study. This also will include the formation of stakeholder meetings, a community advisory group and a technical advisory group as well as a public hearing and four public meetings. In this phase, the study also will consider improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The initial phase, which has just begun, will last about 30 months and is expected to be complete in the summer of 2027.
• Phase Two: Includes contract plan preparation and land acquisition. This phase will last about two years.
• Phase Three: This is the construction phase that could begin as early as 2029 and might be complete by 2033.
• Funding: A cost estimate is not available. During a February presentation to the Davenport City Council, Mr.  Kuehn said that funding would come from Iowa, Illinois and federal sources. He added that Illinois is taking the lead on the project.
• Other factors: Transportation leaders told the council previously that possible alternative routes for a new bridge will consider a number of factors including: social and economic factors; historic properties; noise; natural resources; and special lands, such as parks. Also, the bridge project needs to follow federal laws, such as the National Historic Preservation Act, and consider the effects of federally funded projects on historic properties.
• The bridge team: The project is being headed up the Illinois and Iowa departments of transportation. The professional consulting team also includes: Parsons Transportation Group; Lochner, Inc.; Images, Inc.; OSEH, Inc.; Dan Brown and Associates; CSG Consultants, Inc.; American Surveying and Engineering; and Strategic Value Solutions, Inc.
• Public meetings: There will be at least four additional public meetings on the bridge plan, according to the project schedule. The specific times and dates have yet to be scheduled. However, the tentative schedule has meetings set for this fall or winter; one in the summer of 2026; and two in the spring of 2027.

Many attending the open house meeting said they found the information interesting and valuable. For instance, Marion Meginnis, Davenport 3rd Ward alderman and mayor pro-tem, said she was there to gather information. She also hopes to convince transportation officials of the need to preserve local history in Davenport. Her concern is that if a new bridge is built, historic buildings would have to be torn down to make room for the new span. “Every time they build something like this, it’s new, bigger and more impactful. … I’m here today to learn,” she said. Brian Kramer, executive director of the Hilltop Campus Village, also was on hand to learn about the bridge process. He said it’s a “wonderful event” that he hopes will answer questions and help inform people about the project. “This needs to be a thoughtful process. … It needs to be a bridge plan that everybody can agree with,” he said.