Plans for a new Interstate 74 bridge have been in the works for over a decade. And Monday, the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation will hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge that will connect Bettendorf and Moline.
The ceremony comes in the final week of Illinois' fiscal year, as Democrats and Republicans try to negotiate a deal after two years without a budget.
Andrea Henry, Iowa DOT Director of Strategic Communications, says Iowa is prepared to make sure the project isn't delayed by Illinois budget troubles.
"Illinois has assured Iowa that this is a priority project for them. However, they cannot make any guarantees that the budget is not going to impact this bridge project," she says. "If there is some budgetary concerns, Iowa is prepared to carry the cost of the bridge for a short period of time."
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and all four Quad Cities mayors will attend the ground-breaking ceremony. It will take place at 2 p.m. Monday at Leach Park in Bettendorf.
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