|
Washington, DC - Upon the announcement that the United States Secretary of Transportation, the Honorable Ray LaHood, would be traveling to Illinois on Monday, April 30, Congressmen Bobby Schilling (IL-17) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) today invited him to the Quad Cities in order to view the structurally-deficient I-74 Bridge first-hand. Today's letter continues the Congressmen's bipartisan push for officials to prioritize advancing large interstate bridge projects in federal transportation legislation and in state long-term infrastructure plans.
"Sometimes you have to go the final three feet to truly appreciate why certain issues and situations must be rectified and we would be happy to come with you on those last three feet to show you the problems we are facing with the I-74 Bridge," the Congressmen wrote. "This bridge is an important addition to our local community, region, and states. By working together we can ensure that the people of Illinois and Iowa can safely have their needs met and encourage growth in our local and state economies."
In 2005, the I-74 Bridge became the most traveled bridge in the Quad Cities with an average of 77,800 vehicles crossing daily. This is despite the fact that it was built for 48,000 such crossings. The Bridge itself is functionally obsolete, however, and has never met Interstate standards. In addition to improving travelers' safety, the I-74 Bridge project would spur economic growth, create construction jobs, reduce traffic backups, and improve air quality.
A copy of the letter can be seen here.
|
