About 100 people turned out yesterday to learn about plans for replacing the Eastbound McClugage Bridge.
The near 70 year old structure carried traffic both directions across the Illinois River until 1983 when westbound traffic was moved to the new bridge built immediately north. But the more than 33-foot-wide bridge is nearing the end of its useful life.
Chris Maushard is the Project Manager. He says the new bridge will be more than double in width. “We’re also providing what we call a a multi use path in which the pedestrians and bicyclist and just anyone who wants to cross the bridge in something other than a vehicle will have the ability to do so.”
The load-bearing superstructure of the new bridge will be a deck tied arch rather than the existing truss structures.
Construction is set to begin in Summer 2019 and take about four years to complete.
I-DOT is accepting public comments on the bridge replacement proposal until April 15th. Link to the McClugage Bride Project website.