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Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge

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Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge
Coordinates41°34′49″N 90°21′54″W / 41.58028°N 90.36500°W / 41.58028; -90.36500
Carries4 lanes of I-80
CrossesMississippi River
LocaleLeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois
Maintained byIllinois Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignSteel girder bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length3,483 feet (1,062 m)[1]
Width66 feet (20 m)[1]
History
DesignerIowa State Highway Commission
Constructed byIndustrial Construction Company of Minneapolis, Roy Ryan & Sons of Evanston, and Gould Construction Company of Davenport
OpenedOctober 27, 1966[2]
Statistics
Daily traffic33,500[1]
Location
Map

The Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge is a 4-lane steel girder bridge that carries Interstate 80 across the Mississippi River between LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois. The bridge is named for Fred Schwengel, a former U.S. Representative from Davenport, Iowa and one of the driving forces behind the Interstate Highway Act.[3] The structure was designed by the Iowa State Highway Commission, and was built by the Industrial Construction Company of Minneapolis (contractor), Gould Construction Company of Davenport, and Roy Ryan & Sons of Evanston, Indiana who was responsible for the substructure.[4] The bridge opened on October 27, 1966, and is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation. It underwent a major rehabilitation project in 1996.

History

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On October 5, 1964, a 40-foot steel and wood form was swinging from its roadstead on pier No. 13 after cement was being dumped on it.[5] In 1965, structural steel was installed on the bridge. During that year, officials inspected the bridge.[2] On June 29, 1966, the bridge's center span was installed. The bridge opened to traffic on October 27, 1966.[5]

In 1995, the bridge was renamed for former U.S. Representative Fred Schwengel. He was among the attendees of the October 27, 1966 bridge opening.[3]

Temporary closures

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In 2008, the bridge was closed for two months after inspectors found cracks in the steel under the bridge deck.[6] On May 12, 2009, the eastbound lane of the bridge closed after a crack was found in the top flange of the beam. As a result, inspectors visited the bridge and determined on how to repair the beam.[7] The bridge reopened in August 2009.[8] On April 10, 2015, the westbound lanes of the bridge closed for repairs on the joints and reopened on April 14, 2015.[9]

Replacement

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In 2020, the Illinois Department of Transportation began a study, which is expected to cost $20,000, to replace the bridge.[10] The plan from 2020 to 2025 is to spend $304.5 million on the bridge. By 2025, Illinois is expected to spend $23 billion on concrete, as well as fixing and expanding 4,200 miles (6,800 km) of roadways and 9 million square feet (836,000 m²) of bridge decks. The Illinois department will be the lead agency on the project with the state of Iowa sharing in the costs.[10]

It was announced in late October 2024, that the new bridge will include two spans in place of the original single span.[11] A separate multi-use pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians will be included as well as upgrades to the interchanges at both ends of the bridge. Construction is expected to begin in 2028 and last four years.

Bison Bridge

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On March 18, 2021, a plan was announced by Chad Pregracke to repurpose the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge into a national park. The proposal gives an estimate that taxpayers would save 30 to 40 million dollars by foregoing the demolition of the bridge. The project would allow both bison and pedestrians to roam freely between Iowa and Illinois and also place a visitor center directly on the bridge.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Tom Saul (August 3, 2007). "Bridges: Iowa, Illinois order safety inspections". Quad-City Times. Davenport. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  2. ^ a b "Retro Thursday: Historic photos of the building the I-80 Bridge". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus. November 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Auto Trails: Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge". Iowa Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  4. ^ "Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  5. ^ a b Gantt, Marlene (March 8, 2014). "Bridge workers battled setbacks, danger". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus.
  6. ^ "Lanes of I-80 bridge closed after cracks found". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. July 24, 2008.
  7. ^ Geyer, Thomas (May 12, 2009). "Eastbound lane of-80 bridge closed to traffic". Quad-City Times.
  8. ^ Allemeier, Kurt (August 14, 2009). "Eastbound I-80 bridge reopens". Quad-City Times.
  9. ^ "I-80 bridge closed in one direction for repairs". Quad-City Times. March 27, 2015.
  10. ^ a b John O'Connor (October 21, 2019). "Illinois eyes new Interstate 80 bridge in Rock Island County. State plans to double spending on roads, bridges". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus. East Moline. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  11. ^ Kyle Bales (October 30, 2024). "New bridge on its way for Mississippi River". KWQC-TV. Davenport. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  12. ^ Ickes, Barb. "National park coming to the Quad-Cities?". Quad-City Times.
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