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Government

I-74 Bridge Construction Continues During Flood

Flooding on the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities has not stopped construction of the new I-74 bridge.

Credit Michelle O'Neill / WVIK News
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WVIK News
Danielle Mulholland, I-74 Bridge Project Manager from the Iowa DOT

But Project Manager, Danielle Mulholland, from the Iowa Department of Transportation, says the high water makes it dangerous to work in the main navigation channel. So while the river is cresting, crews will only complete tasks that are absolutely necessary.

Lunda Construction is the company in charge of the center section of the bridge. This spring, it's been building four, large pier foundations. Lunda allowed river water to re-fill one of the coffer dams that surround the footing. But employees added height to other coffer dams to keep the water out. Concrete has already been set in those. Over the next few days while waiting for the river to recede, Mulholland says the Lunda crew is working on eight piers in Sylvan Slough.Work in Bettendorf and Moline has also been scaled back temporarily. More information about the project is available HERE. And a member of a Facebook group (Mississippi River Photos), Dan Schumacher, recently posted this video of the bridge construction site from the Bettendorf riverfront.

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.