The Illinois Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Transportation, announced a public hearing for the Interstate 80 Mississippi River Bridge study. The online hearing will occur on October 29, 2024, with an in-person open house on October 30th at the LeClaire Iowa City Hall. The project aims to address the aging bridge’s increasing maintenance costs and traffic issues. For more information or to register, visit I80MississippiBridge.com.
The public has until November 13th to submit comments that will be included in the official hearing record. This feedback is crucial as the project is still in its first phase, focusing on preliminary engineering and environmental studies, set to conclude with a comprehensive report by early 2025. The project will then advance to the second phase, involving final design and construction plans, with an anticipated start in construction by 2028. Funded through the Rebuild Illinois capital program, this initiative allocates $33.2 billion toward enhancing various transportation modes across the state.