The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today the completion of the new Illinois 178 bridge over the Illinois River.
Illinois transportation secretary, Omer Osman, spoke:
The steel beam bridge consists of two 12 foot lanes and two 6 foot shoulders to accommodate emergency first responders in case of vehicle breakdowns.
There will also be a 10 foot wide protected path for pedestrians and bicyclists to use.
The bridge improves local commerce, regional mobility and provides a new gateway to top tourism draws at Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks.
The project was more or less completed on time and did not go over budget.
The truss bridge adjacent to the new structure will be dismantled by dynamite sometime before the end of the year.