Tomorrow, a crew will begin adding a lane to the I-74 bridge off-ramp in Bettendorf.
For weeks, west-bound traffic has been forced to exit onto Grant Street, using only one lane.
This project will widen the off-ramp to allow two lanes, which should reduce congestion and delays.
Starting at midnight tonight, construction workers will begin closing the Iowa-bound bridge intermittently for 20-minutes at a time.
The temporary closures will end at 5 A.M. In addition, the I-74 Bettendorf off-ramp will be narrowed slightly to give the contractor room to remove the median, barrier wall, and railing.
The workers will build a deck between the ramp and the existing I-74 bridge.
The project should be complete in early July.
The construction project team says bad weather and flooding on the Mississippi River are causing delays in the completion of the new, Iowa-bound I-74 bridge.
So the new goal is to open it to traffic the first half of next year.
Making the Bettendorf exit ramp two lanes will make it easier for drivers to navigate the detour during the extended timeframe.
