Interstate 74 River Bridge, Iowa, Illinois, Twin Arch, Mississippi River, Photography Iowa Department Transportation, DOT

Interstate 74 Bettendorf, IA, and Moline, IL, over the Mississippi River. The original bridge was built in June 1934, with construction starting on a twin bridge in July 1958. The original spans, designed by Ralph Modjeski, merged in 1975. And by 1994, vehicle traffic had doubled, prompting the Illinois (IL) DOT to appropriate millions of dollars for a new bridge design.

Interstate 74 River Bridge, Iowa, Illinois, Twin Arch, Mississippi River, Photography Iowa Department Transportation, DOT

The Iowa DOT describes, “The I-74 bridge traffic was overcapacity, leading to long delays and frequent need for repairs. A new bridge was needed to accommodate current and future traffic volumes. Located on a new alignment to the east, this is no ordinary crossing. The new I-74 Mississippi River Bridge will feature dual basket-handle arch with main channel spans of 800 feet. The bridges support six lanes in each direction, including an outboard bicycle and pedestrian path.”

Interstate 74 River Bridge, Iowa, Illinois, Twin Arch, Mississippi River, Photography Iowa Department Transportation, DOT

CH2M Hill and Rosales + Partners designed the new arch twin bridge. Modjeski and Masters completed the final in association with Alfred Benesch & Company. The Iowa and Illinois DOTs specified a high-performance system to protect the steel surfaces from sunlight exposure. The three-coat field-applied system utilized a primer of organic zinc, an intermediate coat of epoxy, and a FEVE LUMIFLON topcoat.

Interstate 74 River Bridge, Iowa, Illinois, Twin Arch, Mississippi River, Photography Iowa Department Transportation, DOT

The three-coat system, supplied by Sherwin Williams, features a Zinc Clad® III HS primer, a coat of Macropoxy® 646 FC, and a topcoat of Fluorokem® fluoropolymer urethane. Sherwin-Williams’ utilizes Lumiflon FEVE resin that protects the bridge’s vibrancy. The hyper-durable resin offers outstanding and exceptional color and gloss retention. Impervious to degradation caused by UV radiation, moisture, and salt, the system used for the I74 Mississippi River bridge will ensure the project’s lifespan.

Photography courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation

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