I-80 bridge plan moves forward, faces questions, comments

LECLAIRE, Iowa – Karen Nelson often looks out her kitchen window and sees the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River. There are times when that bridge is not a pretty sight. “Some mornings I see red lights on the bridge and I think to myself ‘This isn’t a good day to be on that […]

LECLAIRE, Iowa – Karen Nelson often looks out her kitchen window and sees the Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River. There are times when that bridge is not a pretty sight. “Some mornings I see red lights on the bridge and I think to myself ‘This isn’t a good day to be on that bridge.’ … I’m always concerned about safety,’” she said.

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The LeClaire woman was one of many area residents who attended a meeting Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 30, to hear updates on the progress being made toward the construction of a new I-80 bridge connecting Iowa and Illinois. An online meeting was held Tuesday, Oct. 29, followed by the in-person meeting Wednesday at LeClaire City Hall. The Illinois Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation, held those two meetings to present bridge study information, data on the impacts of the new bridge project, as well as to seek the public’s feedback. The new bridge, which is currently in the design phase, will replace what is formally known as the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge. The existing 57-year-old Mississippi River bridge will be demolished to clear the way for two new I-80 spans on the heavily truck-trafficked crossing that links LeClaire in Iowa and Rapids City in Illinois. If all goes according to schedule, the $288 million bridge project will begin in 2028 and take four years of construction to complete. “I just hope people leave this meeting today with all their questions answered,” said Phil Mescher, an Iowa DOT transportation planner and one of at least 12 transportation officials at the LeClaire open house. In addition to transportation and engineer officials fielding many questions, some of the items helping answer questions included about 10 information boards on display along with maps, photos and an eight-minute video on the bridge project. The meeting was the latest in a series of DOT information sessions concerning the new span.  Also, there was a place for the public to write comments and questions on the project. (Go here to make comments online about the bridge project. Comments received by Wednesday, Nov. 13, will be part of the public hearing record.) Within the first few minutes of Wednesday’s meeting, at least 30 members of the public were busy looking over those materials and asking a lot of questions.  One man looked at the information boards and said: “We’re going to get a new bridge? It’s about time.” Todd Ude, senior engineering manager with Parsons, the engineering consultant for the bridge project, was among those fielding many of the public’s questions. He said members of the public asked about the project’s impact to private property and the construction of the ramps to the bridge. “We’ve also had some people ask about the expansion joints that will be used on the bridge deck,” he added. Here are some of the project details highlighted:

• Construction timeline: Construction on the new bridge is expected to start in 2028 and take four years. Work on the I-88 interchange will take about two years. The project will also include an expanded cloverleaf interchange with an outer direct ramp to address the safety concerns at the I-88 interchange in Illinois.
• Next steps: The project will enter Phase 2, which is the final design and contract plan preparation, early next year. Phase 3 is the actual construction of the bridge.
• During construction: Two lanes in each direction will remain open to travel along I-80 during most of the construction. There will be some temporary ramp closures at U.S. 67, Illinois 84 and I-88 interchanges. There will also be some temporary closures on the Illinois side along Hubbard Road, 193rd Street and 207th Street at the I-88 interchange.
• Cost: The project has been estimated at $288 million. However, during Wednesday’s meeting, several transportation officials said that the cost estimate is several years old and the real cost of the new bridge will probably be much higher. 
• Noise: Officials estimate that noise levels will increase up to four decibels during construction. At this time, no noise barriers will be in place during construction.
• New bridge location: Construction is expected to begin within 25 to100 feet west of the current bridge. Once completed, all I-80 traffic moves to the first new span – which will offer two lanes in each direction – while the existing bridge is removed to clear the way for a new companion bridge in its place.
• New bridge features: The new structure will feature two new I-80 spans. The initial bridge will be built immediately west of the existing bridge. Once that construction is complete, all traffic will move temporarily to the new structure while the old bridge is removed. The selected alternative ended any hopes for converting the existing spans into a proposed Bison Bridge. 
• Multi-use path: The new bridge will also feature a multi-use path – for bicyclists and pedestrians – that will be part of the new westbound bridge. This spring, Rock Island County and the City of LeClaire jointly announced they have agreed to partner on a bicycle and pedestrian path to cross the new Interstate 80 bridge.  The two local governments said the new recreational path will connect the Great River Trail on the Illinois side to recreational paths on the Iowa side – including those being planned in the City of LeClaire.
• Environmental impacts: The project is expected to have these impacts: two residential relocations; one commercial relocation; 14 acres of prime farmland;  6,900 linear feet of rivers and streams;  11 acres of  wetlands; 26 right-of-way acres; 17 acres of floodplain; 35 acres of floodways.
• Impact on threatened and endangered species: The project could impact these protected mussel species – Higgins’ eye, pearly mussel, monkeyface and buttery mussel. The relocation of the mussels will occur before construction. Also, there will be no tree clearing from April 1 to Oct. 31 to protect endangered bat species.
• History: The I-80 bridge was built in 1967. The bridge has required significant repairs in recent years, and traffic is increasing along with increases in vehicular crashes. “The aging bridge continues to face costly maintenance expenses,and the roadway design does not meet current standards,” according to information from the Iowa DOT.
• More information: Go here for information on the bridge project.

Ms. Nelson liked what she saw and heard at Wednesday’s open house and said she’s looking forward to the day when the two new spans are open and allowing traffic to safely cross the river. “I really want to keep updated on this, and I want them to know that they need to keep safety in mind with the new bridge,” she added.