I-270 Mississippi River Bridge completed

MADISON COUNTY — The Illinois and Missouri departments of transportation were joined by local leaders and industry partners today to cut the ribbon on the new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks twin bridges crossing the Mississippi River, the centerpiece of a combined $531.6 million investment to improve safety and mobility while creating jobs and economic opportunity along a critical freight and travel corridor. The bridges are the latest achievement made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is delivering billions of dollars in major projects across the state this fall. ​

“Illinois is the gateway to the world — representing one of the most important commerce hubs in the country. Whether it’s workers making their commute or delivery drivers moving freight, Illinoisians deserve a safe and reliable system to get where they need to go,” said Gov. Pritzker. “With the completion of the I-270 Mississippi River Bridge, we are creating better paying jobs, expanding access to regional travel and spurring economic growth for communities across the state.”

Construction of the bridges has been overseen by IDOT, with the $496.2 million cost shared between Illinois and Missouri. Gov. Pritzker led the groundbreaking for the new bridges in 2023, with the eastbound span opening in late 2024. A companion $35.4 million MoDOT project is reconstructing the Riverview Drive interchange just west of the bridge. ​

The new westbound bridge is anticipated to open Monday, Nov. 16. The bridges initially will carry two lanes in each direction over the river. The overall project will be finalized with median work, guardrail installation, and painting of girders and beams next construction season, when the corridor will open to three lanes in each direction. ​

“The I-270 bridges are another transformational project under Gov. Pritzker that are preparing an entire region for long-term economic success,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “We are especially proud to deliver this project with our partners in Missouri. Working together, we have positioned our two states as a freight hub that can support and create good-paying jobs well into the future.”

For additional information about the project, visit www.270mrb.com.

“The completion of this major river crossing is just the latest example of MoDOT and IDOT teams working together to deliver solutions to the motorists and citizens of the St. Louis region,” said MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. “This bridge will carry in excess of 50,000 vehicles a day between Missouri and Illinois, and it will be critical to the efficient movement of people and goods for decades to come.” ​

Built in 1966, with two lanes in each direction and narrow shoulders unable to accommodate first responders and vehicle breakdowns, the original Chain of Rocks Bridge required frequent maintenance and emergency repairs.

Today, the I-270 loop through Illinois and Missouri connects many of the region's warehouses and distribution parks, ports, airports and railyards on both sides of the Mississippi River. Nearly 70% of the region's industrial tenants occupying large warehouse space in excess of 500,000 square feet are within 10 minutes of the larger I-70 corridor, according to the St. Louis Regional Freightway.

“It cannot be lost on anyone what a massive effort this project has been. Much gratitude needs to be paid to the construction workers, engineers and planners that enabled us to reach this milestone,” said state Sen. Erica Harriss (R-Edwardsville). “It is not every day that two states come together to invest half a billion dollars in a regional project. This is a great example of what can happen when everyone rows in the same direction.”

“The new I-270 bridges will not only support the residents and commuters that use this vital roadway in the Metro East,” said state Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville). “This span across the Mississippi River is also a critical freight connection for businesses small and large that keep the economics of the Metro East humming.”

“The old I-270 bridge handled 51,000 vehicles every single day,” said state Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton). “The new bridges are a huge leap forward in getting people and goods where they need to go reliably.”

Both Missouri and Illinois continue to coordinate on long-term plans to improve capacity and increase reliability on I-270 by adding a third lane in each direction, extending as far east as Illinois 157. In IDOT’s current multiyear improvement program, $115 million is identified for an additional lane between the canal and just east of St. Thomas Road, a project that includes the reconstruction of the Illinois 3 interchange.

In addition to the new I-270 bridges, this fall is capping a banner year for Rebuild Illinois, with the $251.8 million reconstruction of the I-57/74 interchange wrapping up in Champaign as well as $300 million in contracts to open a third lane in each direction along approximately 9 miles as part of the I-80 modernization in Will County. The three projects alone, cornerstones of the capital program, represent a combined $1 billion investment in 2026 in the southern, central and northern parts of the state. ​ ​

Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state’s aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Accomplishments through Year Seven of Rebuild Illinois include $25.6 billion of improvements statewide to 24,498 lane miles of highway, 959 bridges and 1,475 additional safety improvements. ​

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