Bob Michel Bridge to reopen in mid-December. Here's what we know

Dean Muellerleile, Peoria Journal Star
A pedestrian crosses the Bob Michel Bridge on the new and much wider sidewalk from Peoria to East Peoria. After eight months of renovation, theheavily-used bridge is expected to re-open for traffic in mid-December.
A pedestrian crosses the Bob Michel Bridge on the new and much wider sidewalk from Peoria to East Peoria. After eight months of renovation, theheavily-used bridge is expected to re-open for traffic in mid-December.

After eight months of rehabilitation, the Bob Michel Bridge linking downtown Peoria to East Peoria is nearly ready to reopen to vehicular traffic.

The half-mile span is set to reopen in mid-December. The $24.6 million project remains on budget. Before work began in March, the bridge carried some 17,000 vehicles across the Illinois River every day.

Nick Volk, a construction field engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, said the project is "a little behind schedule" because of a few unforeseen issues that arose during construction.

What upgrades are in store?

Improvements to the bridge will include a 14-foot-wide multiuse path with a concrete barrier wall separating pedestrians and bicyclists from motor vehicles. The new path replaces two 5-foot paths without barriers. New LED lighting will be installed to improve visibility and safety. A new bridge deck will include a concrete overlay and new joints to preserve and extend the life of the deck. In addition, Volk said, "The length of the dual turn lane to River Road on the East Peoria side has increased, which will allow for a little more storage of vehicles during peak hours of traffic.”

How is the project progressing?

Workers build a concrete barrier between the pedestrian walkway and the westbound lanes of the Bob Michel Bridge.
Workers build a concrete barrier between the pedestrian walkway and the westbound lanes of the Bob Michel Bridge.

Volk said, "All deck overlay is complete, as is about 95% of the parapet wall and media barrier wall." He added, "New pavement has been installed on both the East Peoria and Peoria sides. A new asphalt path with lighting has been constructed that connects the sidewalks along Adams Street to those along Washington Street. New traffic signal equipment has been installed at each intersection on each end of the bridge, and new expansion joints have been installed on the southern side of the bridge.”

What work remains?

Volk added, "The major work that remains is: The northern half of the expansion joints need to be installed, along with the media barrier lighting that goes across the bridge. Various small pieces of median and island pavement need to be finished at the intersection of Illinois Route 40 and River Road, and pavement markings need to be completed.”

The newly-renovated Bob Michel Bridge is expected to reopen for traffic in mid-December.
The newly-renovated Bob Michel Bridge is expected to reopen for traffic in mid-December.

More: The Bob Michel Bridge is closing soon. Here's what you need to know

For more information on the project, visit bobmichelbridge.com. The website features project details, maps, historical facts and photos.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bob Michel Bridge linking Peoria, East Peoria set to reopen in mid-December

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