Construction to replace a 93-year-old bridge over the Illinois River at Florence is scheduled to launch in 2024. A recently completed transportation feasibility study concluded that the bridge is past its expected lifespan and is too costly to maintain.
The $78 million replacement bridge will be built 300 feet south of the existing bridge, officials said. It will be higher and will have wider openings to allow for increased barge traffic. It will also include expanded lanes and shoulders to improve vehicular, farm equipment and bike traffic. The project has cleared the engineering phase and is currently in the design phase.