Stage 2 demolition complete, IDOT says
Project on schedule for fall completion
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| Work on the $27 million First Avenue Bridge reconstruction project is still on schedule. Traffic has been routed to one lane in each direction in the new northbound lanes on the bridge’s east side, and work pouring footings for the piers began Saturday. Work also has begun on the south abutment, project engineer Matt Hardt says. (Photos taken by Matt Hardt) |
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STERLING – Stage 2 demolition of the $27 million First Avenue Bridge project is done, and crews have started excavating rock for the new pier footings, project engineer Matt Hardt said Monday.
The footing was poured for pier 1 on Saturday. (The piers are labeled one through seven as they go from Rock Falls to Sterling.)
Work has begun on the south abutment, and road work has begun on the north and south sides. Northwest Illinois Construction Co. is pouring new concrete pavement later this week, Hardt said.
Engel Electric also has started the electrical conduit work for the stage 2 lighting and for state Route 40 and Second Street signal improvements for the new eastbound left turn lane in Rock Falls.
Traffic has been routed to one lane in each direction in the new northbound lanes on the bridge’s east side.
The piers are scheduled to be done by the end of August, while structural steel work is to begin the first week of September and finish by the end of the month. The first deck pour is scheduled for Oct. 1.
“The project is currently on schedule, but still too far out to tell if the project will be completed early,” Hardt said.
Once completed, the bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls will look like Dixon’s Galena Avenue Bridge.
As an incentive, the contractor can earn $33,333 a day for every day shaved off the deadline, up to 30 days. Penalties will be assessed if the project is not done on time.
