Iowa-bound traffic will be moved to the new, I-74 bridge by the end of the month. After delays last year, the project team said it would open before the end of this year.
Corridor Manager, George Ryan, says good weather was a big factor in getting the west-bound lanes ready for cars, trucks, and motorcycles. But first, stripes need to be painted and concrete barriers set up.
Illinois-bound traffic will continue to use the existing I-74 bridge until next year.
The speed limit will be 55 miles per hour, and the two, Iowa-bound lanes of the bridge (and their ramps) will still be a construction zone.
Civil Constructors has started work on the east-bound viaduct in Bettendorf. And Lunda Construction continues to erect arch segments for the Illinois-bound bridge. It's already installed 12 of them. The team plans for that side of the Mississippi River bridge to open before the end of next year.
Construction of the $1.2 billion dollar project began more than three years ago.