Engineers will soon start designing the replacement for a historic bridge in the Quad Cities. Last night, members of the Moline city council agreed to hire a consulting firm to oversee the first steps in building a new Sylvan Island Bridge.
City engineer, Scott Hinton, says Missman Inc., based in Rock Island, will work with the Illinois Department of Transportation to determine the right size, type, and location.
The city of Moline will pay the firm up to $79,000 for its services, and the money will come from motor fuel taxes.
Hinton says designing the new bridge could take six to nine months. The original bridge, built 100 years ago, could handle people and horses, while the new bridge will have to bear the weight of large vehicles--plus people and bicycles.
Hinton hopes the new one will resemble the old historic bridge.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has awarded Moline $1.2 million for the project. Hinton thinks a new bridge could be completed by 2016.
