LE CLAIRE, Iowa — Residents are weighing in on plans for a new I-80 bridge between LeClaire and Rapids City.
They saw maps at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and an in-person meeting in LeClaire City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The I-80 bridge across the Mississippi has served drivers since the 1960s. Right now, it carries about 36,000 vehicles every day. But in just a few years, it'll be replaced with a new bridge.
The current plan for the project uses a multi-step approach to building the bridge, so each direction will have two lanes throughout construction. It also makes changes to the I-88/I-80 interchange. IDOT studies and planning engineer Michael Kuehn said moving from a loop design to a flyover should reduce accidents.
The second span would require two residential properties on the Iowa side to be purchased and demolished through right-of-way.
Jim Foster has owned a house near the bridge on the Iowa side since the late 90's. Once the new bridge is built, he's hoping to hear less of the trucks on the interstate, even if it needs four years of construction to happen. His house won't be affected by the construction, but the homes that need to be demolished are his next-door neighbors.
"The good thing is it's going to be a much quieter bridge, more modern construction," Foster said. "We’re greatly relieved, and it’s a wonderful place to live, and so it all worked out for us, we’re very grateful."
He said it will be a good amenity for the Quad Cities to have. Part of that amenity will be a way to walk across the bridge.
As part of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club, Deb Mathias helped rally support for a trail on the new bridge. It's included in the latest version of the plan, with guard rails to separate it from traffic.
"From the very beginning we were hoping we could get a bike pedestrian trail on the bridge," Mathias said. "I think it’s something that can draw people from other areas, and it’ll make a great loop here in the Quad Cities if we have both interstate bridges with a trail."
But Port Byron resident Donna Martin worries about safety, especially with the number of semi trucks driving on I-80.
"You're gonna have draft, you're gonna have blowback, you're gonna have blown tires, I see it all the time. What's gonna happen to these people?" Martin said.
For Foster, he's looking forward to watching the bridge get built, and plans on being among the first to cross it.
Construction on the new bridge will start in 2028. Until then, the Illinois and Iowa departments of transportation will finalize the design and acquire the land they need.
Project planners will take public comments for the next two weeks. You can leave a comment on the project website, and find all the meeting materials here.