EAST PEORIA, Ill. — The massive rehabilitation of the Bob Michel Bridge won’t cost local taxpayers a massive amount, but we have a better idea following action at the East Peoria City Council meeting Tuesday.
Council members reportedly approved a funding agreement with IDOT to complete traffic signal upgrades on the East Peoria side of the bridge while the larger project is underway.
According to meeting documents, the traffic signal work will come at a cost of roughly $23,000 dollars for local taxpayers.
The modernization of the traffic signals on the East Peoria side of the bridge will happen at roughly the same time as a much larger traffic deck rehabilitation project on the Bob Michel Bridge itself, which is expected to be entering the height of the design phase this fall with construction expected to begin “soon”
Once the larger bridge construction project begins, IDOT expects it will force the closure of the entire span for roughly a year.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl tells 25 News after the bridge rehab is finished, the City of Peoria will retain responsibility for all snow and ice removal on the span while East Peoria will be left to handle trash removal and maintenance of the new walking and biking path on the bridge.
