For the third time in just two weeks, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has brought state help to the Quad Cities for major projects. Earlier this month it was low interest loans for water and sewer projects, and to design a new building for Western Illinois University - today it was money for the new I-74 bridge.
Preliminary work is already underway to replace the bridge between Moline and Bettendorf, including land acquisition and design. Quinn has committed 10 million dollars for work along the corridor leading to the new bridge.
17th District Congresswoman, Cheri Bustos, says recently the secretary of transportation called it the worst interstate bridge in the nation.
The Illinois Department of Transportation says about 70,000 vehicles now cross the I-74 bridge each day, and it's projected to reach 100,000 within 20 years. The schedule now calls for construction to start in 2018, with completion in 2021.
