Flooding has delayed progress on a new bridge that will span the Illinois River at Meredosia in the western part of the state. The bridge project was scheduled to be finished next year, but Halverson Construction Superintendent Scott Halverson says now that date is 2019.
Halverson says high waters caused by two recent floods have meant it's taking longer for soil to compact in the construction area. The new bridge will replace a deteriorating two-lane bridge that was built in 1936. The bridge takes traffic across the river on Illinois 104.
The project also includes demolishing the old bridge and building a pump station for the village of Meredosia and a storm water retention system among other improvements. Meredosia is about 55 miles west of Springfield.
