Public meeting announced for I-80 Mississippi River Bridge project

DIXON – The Illinois Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation, will hold an open house public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to present the latest plans for the I-80 Mississippi River Bridge project as work enters the final design phase, discuss next steps and receive public feedback.

The open house will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at LeClaire City Hall, 325 Wisconsin St., LeClaire, Iowa. The public may attend at any time during those hours.

The I-80 Mississippi River Bridge project covers about 6 miles of interstate, from the I-88/I-80 interchange in East Moline to 35th Street SW in LeClaire, Iowa. The public is encouraged to attend to see how the selected alternative is taking shape and learn about the next steps. Attendees can speak with project and land acquisition team members, learn about endangered species protection efforts, and provide feedback.

The I-80 Mississippi River Bridge opened in 1967 and is one of three major interstate bridges over the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. The bridge has required significant repairs and rehabilitation in recent years. Its recurring maintenance needs, safety concerns and outdated roadway features require a long-term solution.

After more than five years of planning, engineering, environmental review and public input, the project has advanced to the final design phase. During the planning phase of the project, the departments of transportation presented improvement alternatives for the bridge and corridor, gathered more than 1,000 public comments, and selected an alternative for final design. The Oct. 14 meeting will give the public an inside look at that work as plans move toward construction-ready design.

Meeting materials will be available at I80MississippiBridge.com for those unable to attend. Comments may also be submitted through the project website. ​