Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[edwaleni]

For anyone who wants to virtually experience the Wabash Cannonball Bridge, here you go.

[kphoger]

It looks like IDOT is on the hook until 2030. Many of the articles in 2009 were in the Lawrence Daily Record in Lawrenceville and are no longer available.

From Boomer Magazine:

https://boomermagonline.com/?p=2544

After going unused for a few decades, the wooden bridge found new life, apparently some time between 1960 and 1970, when it was purchased by a farmer, Frank Stangle, and his family. The family made minimal changes, before opening the “Stangle Bridge” as a toll bridge. As is still the case today, farm trucks were frequent to utilize the structure, and it also provided a shortcut for those from St. Francisville who worked in the Vincennes area and vise versa.

Stangle and his family left original railroad ties in place and running planks for cars were installed. The rails were removed from the deck, but were used for a different purpose — as the guard rail that was added to each side.

The toll bridge served its purpose for many years, but the Stangle family eventually reached an agreement to sell the historic structure to the Village of St. Francisville.

The only problem was, St. Francisville didn’t have the necessary $60,000 to complete the purchase. That didn’t stop a group of good citizens of the village from banding together, holding frequent fish frys, festivals and other fund-raisers to scrape together the money. Eventually, the village was able to make the purchase in 1995.

It was only a matter of time before the state of Illinois became interested in owning the bridge, and in 2009 the Illinois Department of Transportation took the structure over. The IDOT promised funding for the bridge for 20 years, according to published reports. Much of the revenue the bridge produces is used for expensive inspections, which reportedly occur on a bi-annual basis.

While at one time there was a ferry boat to take travelers from one side of the Wabash to the other, the bridge has always been a popular option. In 2011, it was estimated that 800 vehicles crossed the bridge on a daily basis. Today, it’s said that 600 vehicles make the trip each day.

The toll booth, located on the Illinois side of the Wabash, opens each day at 4 a.m. The booth closes at 9 p.m. throughout the week, and at 11 p.m. each Friday and Saturday night. So, depending upon the day, travelers have a few hours during which they can cross back and forth free of charge.

It should be noted that because Indiana is in the Eastern time zone and Illinois is in the Central, bridge crossers will invariably either gain or lose an hour on their trip. If someone crosses from Indiana at 2 p.m., for example, he’ll arrive in St. Francisville at just a few minutes after 1.

Yeah, Boomer Magazine was as close as I could come to a "real article" about the sale.  Bridgehunter.com also made reference to the 2009 sale.  For those interested, the comments there include one by the daughter of the man who actually purchased the r/o/w and converted it from rails to road, as well as one by the grandson of the ferry operator who was put out of business.

[I-39]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

[edwaleni]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

I believe this was included in the new IDOT spending plan that just came out.

[I-39]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

I believe this was included in the new IDOT spending plan that just came out.

But will it actually happen this time? They've been talking about it forever, but I can't seem to find the project info online anymore.

[cwm1276]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

I believe this was included in the new IDOT spending plan that just came out.

But will it actually happen this time? They've been talking about it forever, but I can't seem to find the project info online anymore.

It is in the multi year plan and the Perryville Rd bridge is scheduled sooner and was being planned to accommodate the expansion.  That news was a year ago, I thought they might replace that bridge this year.
I figure the rest is at least a few years out, as the current re-surfacing project will make the road smoother for a couple of years.  In few places they are replacing the entire pavement, like under  Perryville Rd.

[ET21]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

I believe this was included in the new IDOT spending plan that just came out.

But will it actually happen this time? They've been talking about it forever, but I can't seem to find the project info online anymore.

It is in the multi year plan and the Perryville Rd bridge is scheduled sooner and was being planned to accommodate the expansion.  That news was a year ago, I thought they might replace that bridge this year.
I figure the rest is at least a few years out, as the current re-surfacing project will make the road smoother for a couple of years.  In few places they are replacing the entire pavement, like under  Perryville Rd.

I think they are also waiting for the interchange improvements on 20 to be completed to the west

[cwm1276]

Whatever happened to the plan to rebuild/expand I-39/US 20 in the Rockford area between Harrison Ave and the I-39 split off? Is that still an active project? I only see this from 3 years ago online.

https://www.rrstar.com/news/20170407/cherry-valley-subdivision-residents-concerned-about-i-39us-20-expansion-plan

I believe this was included in the new IDOT spending plan that just came out.

But will it actually happen this time? They've been talking about it forever, but I can't seem to find the project info online anymore.

It is in the multi year plan and the Perryville Rd bridge is scheduled sooner and was being planned to accommodate the expansion.  That news was a year ago, I thought they might replace that bridge this year.
I figure the rest is at least a few years out, as the current re-surfacing project will make the road smoother for a couple of years.  In few places they are replacing the entire pavement, like under  Perryville Rd.

I think they are also waiting for the interchange improvements on 20 to be completed to the west

They already have 20/39 on a single side with 1 lane each direction for the resurfacing and repairs.  So i don't see the difference and reason to wait.

[Lyon Wonder]

IDOT has completed a 3 year environmental impact study on replacing the IL-106 Florence bridge on the Illinois River and IDOT says the new bridge will be a UCEB that's 300 feet south of the existing bridge and will be similar to the new US 54 Champ Clark bridge that opened last year.

https://wlds.com/hearing-for-new-florence-bridge-set-for-sept-10/

[ET21]

The outbound Kennedy expansion (Harlem to I-190 on I-90 westbound) delayed its completion until next summer due to some utility relocation mishaps

[ChiMilNet]

The outbound Kennedy expansion (Harlem to I-190 on I-90 westbound) delayed its completion until next summer due to some utility relocation mishaps

Well, same issues happened at the Circle/Burn Interchange, so only manages to continue to same pattern of this! Sadly, I still see some critical items just East of there going outbound that are not being addressed, so I wonder how effectively this will actually help the traffic issues outbound.

[SSOWorld]

Only in "$#!7icago"...

[ET21]

IDOT will finally resurface the section of the Kennedy (I-90) from Harlem to the Edens (I-94) junction. Probably the second worst section of pavement behind everyone's favorite I-55 section

[ChiMilNet]

IDOT will finally resurface the section of the Kennedy (I-90) from Harlem to the Edens (I-94) junction. Probably the second worst section of pavement behind everyone's favorite I-55 section

I don't even want to think how much that section of pavement contributed to the premature deterioration of my previous set of tires (city streets also played a significant role in that) while I was still living in the city. Glad to see that this is being addressed.

[The Ghostbuster]

I just looked at Interstate 90 along this segment on Street View. The pavement looks ghastly. Also, what segment of Interstate 55 are you refering to when you say "everyone's favorite I-55 section"?

[Brandon]

IDOT will finally resurface the section of the Kennedy (I-90) from Harlem to the Edens (I-94) junction. Probably the second worst section of pavement behind everyone's favorite I-55 section

Which is being repaved piecemeal every night right now.  Before long, I-55 will be more patches than original pavement.

[ChiMilNet]

I just looked at Interstate 90 along this segment on Street View. The pavement looks ghastly. Also, what segment of Interstate 55 are you refering to when you say "everyone's favorite I-55 section"?

Between I-80 and Weber Road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5547791,-88.1806159,3a,75y,186.24h,84.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYnbHgkIXZ-u8Fw2KoxdU9A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6238457,-88.1636653,3a,75y,181.59h,70.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOk0oF02riICmpHh7ocajtQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[STLmapboy]

I just looked at Interstate 90 along this segment on Street View. The pavement looks ghastly. Also, what segment of Interstate 55 are you refering to when you say "everyone's favorite I-55 section"?

Between I-80 and Weber Road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5547791,-88.1806159,3a,75y,186.24h,84.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYnbHgkIXZ-u8Fw2KoxdU9A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6238457,-88.1636653,3a,75y,181.59h,70.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOk0oF02riICmpHh7ocajtQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I swear, the pavement on 55 is a shade of orangish-red from STL to Springfield. Parts are bumpy as all hell. That reddish pavement is common in Mississippi and TN and such (due to iron) but not in the midwest.

[3467]

The original concrete pavement on 88 was orange collared or at rusty looking streaks.

[CapeCodder]

I just looked at Interstate 90 along this segment on Street View. The pavement looks ghastly. Also, what segment of Interstate 55 are you refering to when you say "everyone's favorite I-55 section"?

Between I-80 and Weber Road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5547791,-88.1806159,3a,75y,186.24h,84.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYnbHgkIXZ-u8Fw2KoxdU9A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6238457,-88.1636653,3a,75y,181.59h,70.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOk0oF02riICmpHh7ocajtQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I swear, the pavement on 55 is a shade of orangish-red from STL to Springfield. Parts are bumpy as all hell. That reddish pavement is common in Mississippi and TN and such (due to iron) but not in the midwest.

I've noticed this too. They ought to six lane 55 from 270/70 to Springfield. Lots of trucks use 55.