The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge between Bettendorf and Moline has won another award.  

The American Concrete Institute awarded it First Place — Infrastructure in its 2023 Excellence in Concrete Construction contest.  

Designed by Alfred Benesch and Modjeski and Masters, the 3,400-feet-long span provides a crossing over the Mississippi River between Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Ill. The new structure features dual basket-handle arch bridges with main channel spans of 800 feet. There are six lanes, including a bicycle and pedestrian path. 

The ACI Iowa Chapter submitted the entry. 

The award notes “True arches generate immense thrust forces at their bases, and monumental concrete substructures were required to compensate for the elegantly minimalist superstructures.” 

IMEG’s construction engineering, materials testing, and inspection teams provided services on multiple components of the overall corridor project, which in addition to the replacement of the bridge included eight miles of corridor improvements. 

The bridge was featured on a U.S. Postal Service stamp in 2023.  

Other honors include: 

• The National Council of Structural Engineers Association’s 2022 Structural Engineering Excellence Award in the New Bridges or Transportation Structures category.    
• Roads & Bridges Magazine’s #1 Bridge of 2022 
• ACEC of Illinois’ Lincoln Grand Conceptor Award 2023 
• American Institute of Steel Construction and National Steel Bridge Alliance’s 2022 Prize Bridge Awards in the National Major Span category 
• A Midwest winner of 2022 America’s Transportation Awards, in the Quality of Life/Community Development ($200 million-plus) category.