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Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge

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Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge
Coordinates41°34′49″N 90°21′54″W / 41.58028°N 90.36500°W / 41.58028; -90.36500
Carries4 lanes of I-80
CrossesMississippi River
LocaleLeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois
Maintained byIllinois Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignSteel girder bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length3,483 feet (1,062 m)[1]
Width66 feet (20 m)[1]
History
DesignerIowa State Highway Commission
Constructed byIndustrial Construction Company of Minneapolis, Roy Ryan & Sons of Evanston, and Gould Construction Company of Davenport
OpenedOctober 27, 1966[2]
Statistics
Daily traffic33,500[1]
Location
Map

The Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge is a 4-lane steel girder bridge that carries Interstate 80 across the Mississippi River between LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois. The bridge is named for Fred Schwengel, a former U.S. Representative from Davenport, Iowa and one of the driving forces behind the Interstate Highway Act.[3] The structure was designed by the Iowa State Highway Commission, and was built by the Industrial Construction Company of Minneapolis (contractor), Gould Construction Company of Davenport, and Roy Ryan & Sons of Evanston, Indiana who was responsible for the substructure.[4] The bridge opened on October 27, 1966, and is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation. It underwent a major rehabilitation project in 1996.

History

On October 5, 1964, a 40-foot steel and wood form was swinging from its roadstead on pier No. 13 after cement was being dumped on it.[5] In 1965, structural steel was installed on the bridge. During that year, officials inspected the bridge.[2] On June 29, 1966, the bridge's center span was installed. The bridge opened to traffic on October 27, 1966.[5]

In 1995, the bridge was renamed for former U.S. Representative Fred Schwengel. He was among the attendees of the October 27, 1966 bridge opening.[3]

Temporary closures

In 2008, the bridge was closed for two months after inspectors found cracks in the steel under the bridge deck.[6] On May 12, 2009, the eastbound lane of the bridge closed after a crack was found in the top flange of the beam. As a result, inspectors visited the bridge and determined on how to repair the beam.[7] The bridge reopened in August 2009.[8] On April 10, 2015, the westbound lanes of the bridge closed for repairs on the joints and reopened on April 14, 2015.[9]

Replacement

Starting in 2020, the Illinois Department of Transportation will begin a study, which is expected to cost $20,000, to replace the span.[10] The plan from 2020 to 2025 is to spend $304.5 million on the bridge. By 2025, Illinois is expected to spend $23 billion on concrete, as well as fixing and expanding 4,200 miles (6,800 km) of roadways and 9 million square feet (836,000 square meters) of bridge decks. The Illinois department will be the lead agency on the project with the state of Iowa sharing in the costs.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tom Saul (August 3, 2007). "Bridges: Iowa, Illinois order safety inspections". Quad-City Times. Davenport. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  2. ^ a b "Retro Thursday: Historic photos of the building the I-80 Bridge". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus. November 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Auto Trails: Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge". Iowa Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  4. ^ "Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  5. ^ a b Gantt, Marlene (March 8, 2014). "Bridge workers battled setbacks, danger". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus.
  6. ^ "Lanes of I-80 bridge closed after cracks found". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. July 24, 2008.
  7. ^ Geyer, Thomas (May 12, 2009). "Eastbound lane of-80 bridge closed to traffic". Quad-City Times.
  8. ^ Allemeier, Kurt (August 14, 2009). "Eastbound I-80 bridge reopens". Quad-City Times.
  9. ^ "I-80 bridge closed in one direction for repairs". Quad-City Times. March 27, 2015.
  10. ^ a b John O'Connor (October 21, 2019). "Illinois eyes new Interstate 80 bridge in Rock Island County. State plans to double spending on roads, bridges". The Dispatch / The Rock Island Argus. East Moline. Retrieved 2019-10-22.


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