|
|
|
|
|
Peoria, Illinois BridgesPeoria, IL and East Peoria, IL are split by the Illinois River, a body of water that reaches up to a mile across in places along Peoria Lake. In the Peoria area, there are five major crossings over the Illinois River. Because of the topology of the cities, alignments of the numerous state routes across the Illinois River become confused. All of the bridges are required to be at least 70 feet above the average river level, as the Illinois River is the main route for cargo ships bound for New Orleans, LA or the Atlantic Ocean via Chicago and the Saint Lawrence Canal. Interstate 474 The Interstate 474 bridge over the Illinois River is to carry the majority of traffic through 2005 as the Murray Baker Bridge is closed for nearby reconstruction on Interstate 74. Cedar Street Bridge The Cedar Street Bridge carries Illinois State Route 8, Illinois State Route 29, and Illinois State Route 116 over the Illinois River. It is about a mile and a half southwest from downtown. The bridge is a simple steel arch bridge that towers approximately 70 to 80 feet above the surface of the river, and is the shortest span of the five. Peoria, IL and East Peoria, IL are split by the Illinois River, a body of water that reaches up to a mile across in places along Peoria Lake. In the Peoria area, there are five major crossings over the Illinois River. Because of the topology of the cities, alignments of the numerous state routes across the Illinois River become confused. All of the bridges are required to be at least 70 feet above the average river level, as the Illinois River is the main route for cargo ships bound for New Orleans, LA or the Atlantic Ocean via Chicago and the Saint Lawrence Canal. Bob Michel Bridge The Bob Michel Bridge carries Illinois State Route 40 over the Illinois River just 3/4th of a mile upriver from the Cedar Street Bridge. The state route designation is largely unnecessary, as Illinois 40 terminates about a mile south of the bridge at Interstate 74. This bridge is structurally identical to the Cedar Street Bridge, and serves a formally industrial neighborhood. It is now being zoned commercial, and development is occurring at a rapid rate. The Bob Michel Bridge is named after former Congressman Robert Henry Michel, a Peoria-area Republican who served in Congress in the late 1970's. Murray Baker Bridge The Murray Baker Bridge carries Interstate 74 over the Illinois River at the end of Peoria Lake. The bridge itself is two lanes in each direction, but has no shoulders and is therefore not up to Interstate standards. The ongoing reconstruction of I-74 will close the bridge for nearly a year, but the bridge itself will not be replaced. The bridge itself is a single cantilever bridge. McClugage Bridge / Iron Workers' Memorial Bridge The Iron Workers' Memorial Bridge carries U.S. Highway 24 and U.S. Highway 150 over Upper Peoria Lake. It was so named after an accident in 2000 killed three iron workers' when scaffolding on the bridge collapsed 60 feet into the river. It is actually two steel cantilever bridges, side by side, with three lanes on the westbound bridge and two on the eastbound bridge. External Resources * Labor Landmarks
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|