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Illinois, Iowa launch study for Centennial Bridge, starting process to replace or rehab
The 85-year-old Centennial Bridge is on state transportation dockets for replacement or significant rehab.
The bridge has connected the downtowns of Rock Island and Davenport across the Mississippi River since 1940. Originally a toll bridge, it was named for Rock Island's centennial anniversary.
Officials with the Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation are launching a "Phase 1" study to evaluate the bridge's conditions, gather public input and assess potential environmental and historical impacts of replacing or rehabbing the bridge, officials told the Davenport City Council in a presentation on Tuesday.
Illinois is taking the lead on the project. Iowa led decades-long replacement of the Interstate 74 bridge and Illinois has the reins on the in-progress process of replacing the Interstate 80 bridge.
State officials are evaluating all the potential options, said Michael Kuehn, Illinois Department of Transportation District 2 studies and plans engineer. That could mean keeping the bridge in its place, rebuilding a new bridge in its location or building a new bridge up- or downriver."A certain area around the bridge will have a range of alternatives," said Mark Peterson, project manager and engineer from Parsons, a firm assisting with the study. "Whether its the bridge right on existing foundation, upriver, downriver, anything and everything right now, so we don't have any predisposition."
When considering "alternatives," state officials will consider impacts on environmental areas, local parks, historical structures and residents and focus on alternatives that avoid or minimize adverse impacts.
The study will have multiple public input opportunities, including stakeholder meetings, forming a Community Advisory Group and Technical Advisory Group, and large public meetings, similar to the process for the study to replace the I-80 bridge. State officials told council members the first meeting is planned for April 17.
A project website is slated to be launched in March.
The study will consider improved bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, too. The bridge currently has a sidewalk.
The Centennial has been ranked as the most-traveled structurally deficient bridge in the state of Iowa by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. An average of 26,500 cars cross the bridge daily. Iowa has ranked first in the country for having the highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges, which the group defines as having a key element of the bridge in poor or worse condition. Illinois ranked 12th in 2024.
Officials told Davenport City Council members they estimate Phase 1 to take two and a half years. The second phase, which is making a contract plan and acquiring land easements, is expected to take at least another two years.
If stars aligned and everything went smoothly, Kuehn said, construction could start as early as 2030.
Kuehn said both Illinois and Iowa DOTs are preparing to set aside funding for a potential new bridge.
The Centennial was the first four-lane tied arch bridge to span the Mississippi River. It was funded through federal bonds and paid for by tolls collected from bridge-users until 2003. State departments of transportation took over the bridge and its maintenance in 2005.
Illinois, Iowa launch study for Centennial Bridge, starting process to replace or rehab
The Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation are launching a study to evaluate the bridge's conditions, gather public input and assess impacts. The total project is expected to take years.
