Could a new Mississippi River crossing replace the Centennial Bridge between Rock Island and Davenport?
The Illinois Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation, invites the public to attend a second public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for the U.S. 67 (Centennial Bridge) corridor project. The meeting will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at the second floor of The Current Iowa, 215 N. Main St., Davenport. There will be no formal presentation, and the public is invited to attend at any time during the hours listed.
At the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to:
- Review the project’s purpose and need
- Review improvement alternatives developed for the corridor
- View maps and key features of each alternative
- Learn about environmental considerations
- Speak with members of the project team
- Share feedback to help guide which alternatives move forward
The Centennial Bridge has served as a vital connection between Rock Island and Davenport for more than 85 years, since its 1940 opening, named in honor of the coming 100th anniversary of Rock Island in 1941.
Due to aging infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs, the Illinois and Iowa DOTs are conducting a study to identify long-term solutions to improve safety, traffic flow and overall connectivity in the Quad Cities.
The Centennial (in 2017, it was officially renamed as the Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot Memorial Bridge) is the most traveled structurally deficient bridge in Iowa – according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association – with 26,500 average daily crossings.
The improvement alternatives being presented were developed using community feedback and engineering analysis, with environmental considerations in mind, according to the two state transportation departments. The project team wants to hear from the public about how well these alternatives address community priorities and what matters most as the project moves toward selecting a preferred alternative.
IDOT and Iowa DOT launched the U.S. 67 (Centennial Bridge) corridor project to evaluate long-term transportation solutions for the corridor connecting Rock Island and Davenport. The study limits extend from Seventh Avenue in Rock Island to Fifth Street in Davenport.
The project is currently in Phase I, which follows federal guidelines to assess transportation needs, develop and evaluate alternatives, identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts, and gather public input. The goal is to identify a feasible solution that improves safety, mobility and connectivity while supporting the region’s long-term transportation needs. Phase I is expected to conclude in summer 2027.
At 85 years old, the Centennial Bridge is a QC landmark and treasure – but the aging structure requires frequent and costly repairs. The first phase of the improvement project will assess the bridge’s condition, explore solutions, identify options for an improved river crossing.
The goal will be to determine the best path forward, prioritizing safety, accessibility, design, community needs, and environmental impacts.
Improvements to the corridor will be determined in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA guides federally funded projects that require a federal permit to lessen potential impacts to the environment.
IDOT is required to evaluate alternative ways of accomplishing and meeting study needs. They will assess the natural, built, and human environment to determine the extent of impacts that may arise from constructing and operating a project. Environmental factors such as cultural resources, neighborhoods, socioeconomics, parks/recreation areas, air quality, wildlife, vegetation, water quality, and wetlands will be assessed. The process calls for continuous environmental evaluations as alternatives are developed and analyzed.
There are three phases to IDOT’s project development and implementation process. Phase II consists of contract plan preparation and land acquisition, and Phase III includes the construction process.
The bridge alternatives will be further developed and evaluated to identify the Preferred Alternative. It is anticipated that the Project Study Team will have a recommendation for the Preferred Alternative by mid to late 2026.
Mayor declined name in his honor
During its construction year starting in March of 1939, the bridge was informally called the “Galbraith Bridge,” for then-Rock Island Mayor Robert P. Galbraith. Two months before its dedication on July 11, 1940, Mayor Galbraith firmly declined to have the bridge officially named in his honor, according to the Rock Island Preservation Society. He suggested, instead, that it be named the Centennial Bridge, in recognition of Rock Island’s upcoming centennial year.
The dedication, grand parade across the bridge, and subsequent celebration, attracted unprecedented crowds. The bridge was originally the first four-lane bridge across the Mississippi River, as the original I-74 bridge between Moline and Bettendorf was two lanes, opening in 1935 (the second twin span opened in late 1959).
A major change in the bridge came in 1960 when new access from First Avenue in Rock Island was added. At that time the waterfalls were rotated slightly so the roadway could be widened. At some time, a large clock above the tollbooths was removed. In 1988, the bridge arches were lighted, making it as visible at night as it is in the daytime.
Finally, in a dream come true, the State of Illinois assumed the maintenance and repair of the bridge in 2005. Prior to the state’s acceptance of the bridge, many changes were mandated. Although tolls were eliminated in May 2003, it took another two years of construction to remove the center toll booth, modify the approaches to accommodate increased traffic, and make many other repairs and improvements deemed necessary.
So far, nine bridge replacement alternatives have been identified and analyzed. These alternatives consist of the complete removal of the existing bridge. A new four-lane bridge would be built to replace the existing Centennial Bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Rock Island and Davenport.
The former I-74 bridge was replaced by the new $1.2-billion bridge connecting Bettendorf and Moline (four lanes in each direction), with the first span opening in November 2020, and the second opening in December 2021.
There is also a long-range process to replace the I-80 Bridge between LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids, City, Ill.
The new four-lane bridge (in two spans), which is currently in the design phase, will replace what is formally known as the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge, which opened in 1967 and will be demolished to clear the way for the new bridge.
Members of the public who are unable to attend the Centennial Bridge meeting in person can review all meeting materials and submit comments online at www.CentennialBridge.com. Comments received by Feb. 11 will be included in the official meeting record.
For more information about the project or to stay updated, visit www.CentennialBridge.com.
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