ROCK ISLAND — State Senator Mike Halpin joined State Representative Gregg Johnson and the Illinois Department of Transportation on Wednesday to announce the completion of the I-280 bridge over the Mississippi River in Rock Island.

“I am grateful for the leaders that prioritized this funding and helped make this bridge a reality,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “But I want to offer a special 'thank you' to the skilled tradesmen and women that built this bridge from the riverbed up. We are lucky to have an amazing workforce in Illinois and we are a better state because of it.”

The $49.7 million project began in 2021 with the demolition and replacement of the I-280 westbound bridge deck, followed by the eastbound bridge deck in 2022. The final stage of the project, which patched and resurfaced I-280 from the bridge to the Illinois 92 interchange, was combined with another $16 million improvement that extended the work from the Illinois 92 interchange to east of the Milan Beltway. Additional work included bridge painting and lighting upgrades at Illinois 92.

The combined projects improved more than six miles of I-280 through Coal Valley, Moline, Milan and Rock Island. The interstate also serves the Quad City International Airport, which is estimated to generate nearly $650 million annually in economic impact and support nearly 4,400 jobs, according to an IDOT analysis of the state’s airports.

“We call it the Quad Cities for a reason: every town on both sides of the river needs one another to thrive,” said Johnson (D-East Moline). “This bridge is not just connecting two neighboring states, it is connecting one community split by a mighty river.”

Four years of Rebuild Illinois projects have seen over $12 billion invested in 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 additional safety improvements. For information on other Rebuild Illinois projects happening throughout the state, visit idot.click/Rebuild-Illinois.