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I-74 Bridge Project in Jeopardy of Coming “to a Halt”

Construction on the new Interstate 74 Bridge is supposed to be done by 2020, but money – and time – is running out. On Saturday, July 11th, 2015, Re...

Construction on the new Interstate 74 Bridge is supposed to be done by 2020, but money - and time - is running out.

On Saturday, July 11th, 2015, Representative Cheri Bustos visited the Quad Cities to meet with local leaders about federal funding.

Right now, Congress is trying to pass a highway bill to fix and fund our area's infrastructure. However, if they don't find a solution by July 31st, 2015, federal funding for those projects - like the I-74 Bridge - will end. Monday, July 13th, 2015, a spokesman for Bustos said that if federal funding for the project doesn't come through, the new bridge project will not continue because Illinois and Iowa don't have enough money to come up with the rest of it.

"[The I-74 Bridge is still] in the planning stages, but not having a long-term highway bill puts that to a halt," said Congresswoman Bustos Saturday. "What's going on in the state of Illinois puts that to a halt. You don't move things forward without a proper funding mechanism."

The Senate is expected to discuss a highway funding bill the new work week on Monday. Meanwhile, House Republicans are working on a package to extend funding through the end of the year, but Congressional Democrats - like Rep. Bustos - say that's only a short-term solution and a long-term one is needed to plan for the future.

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