Changes are coming for traffic crossing the I-74 Bridge from Illinois to Iowa. Beginning Wednesday, and weather permitting, the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation say motorists will be able to avoid delays caused by trains in downtown Moline.
The current route along 19th Street to River Drive will stay open, but the new option is to take 19th Street north, to the new I-74 on-ramp at 6th Avenue. Vehicles will travel on the new highway briefly, going over the tracks, then exit using a new off-ramp to River Drive.
From there, they can take the Iowa-bound ramp and get back on I-74 to cross the river to Bettendorf.
Then late next month, if the weather cooperates, Iowa-bound traffic on I-74 in Moline will move to the newly-paved lanes. And instead of exiting at Avenue of the Cities to 19th Street, traffic will stay on the "new" I-74 all the way to the Mississippi River, then exit and cross the river on the old bridge.
Here's the video the bridge project team released to teach people about the Iowa-bound traffic changes. Jump to about 1:10 for the most pertinent information.