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I-74 Mississippi River Bridge awarded top honors
Construction of the Interstate 74 bridge over the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities won top honors among Midwest states in the America’s Transportation Awards. One of the biggest projects in state history and a transformational investment in infrastructure for the region, the new bridge was recognized for improving safety and mobility, enhancing quality of life and positioning the Quad Cities area for future economic opportunity.
“We take particular pride in delivering projects that not only improve everyday life for residents but also keep Illinois competitive for years to come,” said Secretary Osman. “This award is especially meaningful because it not only shows great teamwork between two states, but also helps remind the public that we are constantly working on their behalf to boost quality of life and community development as we modernize infrastructure through Gov. Pritzker’s historic Rebuild Illinois capital program.”
Opened to traffic in 2021, the twin bridges have four lanes in each direction and a 14-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path with a scenic overlook and connections to existing paths in Bettendorf and Moline. The I-74 corridor serves as a primary crossing of the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities area, carrying more than 45% of the region’s total vehicular traffic across the river.
The approximately $1 billion project was a collaborative effort of the departments of transportation in Iowa and Illinois and includes new interchanges, ramps and local road reconfigurations to improve mobility and operation, delivering safer and more reliable travel for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.
Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, America’s Transportation Awards recognize state DOTs for projects that make their communities better places to live, work and play.
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