Quad Citians soon will get the chance to see and hear plans to perhaps eventually replace the Centennial Bridge between Davenport and Rock Island.
A public open house meeting on the potential bridge project is set for 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at The Current Iowa hotel, 215 N. Main St., Davenport.
The meeting will not have a formal presentation, but those attending will have the opportunity to:
- Review the project’s purpose and need.
- Review improvement alternatives developed for the corridor.
- View maps and key features of each alternative.
- Learn about environmental considerations.
- Speak with the project team members.
- Share feedback to help guide which alternatives move forward.
A similar open house was held last April at the Holiday Inn Rock Island. At that event, hundreds of Quad Citians heard the potential plans for repairing or replacing the bridge, scheduling and next steps forward to improving the structure.
“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,” Michael Kuehn, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (DOT) studies and plans engineer, said at that 2025 meeting.
He added that a “preferred alternative” for improving the bridge is expected to be selected by the spring of 2027. It 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 stressed 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 estimated about $7 million in repairs have been done to the bridge.
Project timeline
“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 at the initial open house.
Transportation officials also said that if it is eventually decided to tear down the Centennial Bridge and build a new span, construction could begin in 2029 and be complete by 2033.
The upcoming Jan. 28 meeting is being presented by the Illinois DOT, in partnership with the Iowa DOT.
Those unable to attend can review all meeting materials and submit comments online at www.CentennialBridge.com. Comments received by Wednesday, Feb. 11, will be included in the official meeting record.
The Centennial Bridge has served as a vital connection between Rock Island and Davenport’s downtowns for more than 85 years. Due to aging infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs, the bistate DOTs are conducting a study to identify long-term solutions to improve safety, traffic flow and overall connectivity in the Quad Cities.
The improvement alternatives being presented were developed using community feedback and engineering analysis, with environmental considerations in mind.
The bridge project is currently in Phase I, which follows federal guidelines to assess transportation needs, develop and evaluate alternatives, identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts, and gather public input. The goal is to identify a feasible solution that improves safety, mobility and connectivity while supporting the region’s long-term transportation needs. Phase I is expected to conclude in summer 2027.
For more information about the project or to stay updated, visit www.CentennialBridge.com.
