The new Interstate 74 bridge may be at least a decade away, but the city of Bettendorf is being asked to commit an estimated $7.8 million for "aesthetic" improvements along the project corridor.
The memorandum of understanding outlining the financial commitments by Bettendorf, Moline, Davenport and the states of Iowa and Illinois is to be voted on at the December 6 council meeting.
The aesthetic components of the project total $46 million and include:
- The pedestrian/bike lane on the bridge.
- The pedestrian overlook planned for mid-span of the new bridge.
- Aesthetic treatments to the retaining walls and noise abatement walls.
- Banners, gateway features, identity pylons and aesthetic railings.
- Aesthetic treatment of barriers, aesthetic light poles and lights, a water feature detention basin (rather than dry detention).
Bettendorf's estimated costs would include:
- $1.7 million for a "letdown structure" (elevator) from bridge to the bike/pedestrian trail.
- $1.66 million for aesthetic lighting.
- $1 million for replacing sanitary sewer lines along the downtown streets impacted by the new bridge.
- $850,000 for new storm sewers in the area of the new bridge.
- $838,000 for new lighting of downtown streets.
- $690,000 for banners (identity elements) in the corridor area.
- $550,000 for the "water feature" detention pond.
- $293,000 for local road improvements (12th St. reconstruction, parking area, 10th St. overlay, 12th St. overlay, Gilbert St.).
- $78,000 for at grade bike/pedestrian trail connection.
The two state transporation budgets would pick up about $35 million of the overall "aesthetic" bridge costs. Moline's share is estimated at $2.4 million while Davenport's cost (banners and lighting in the Davenport portion of the corridor) is estimated at $432,000.
The overall cost of the new bridge and corridor improvements is now estimated at between $800 million to $1 billion.
