Demolition is wrapping up!
See all the latest photos and footage HERE!
We had a blast – actually 10!
Demolishing the retired eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge
The final blast on the old Eastside McClugage Bridge took place on Friday, July 25. While it's not officially demolished yet, crews are working to clean up blasted piers in the water and safely remove three remaining piers near the railroad tracks without explosives. Here's what you need to know:
-
Nothing else remains on the retired span
-
Work around the old bridge (U.S. 150 and Adams Street) is expected to wrap up by mid-to-late fall
-
The multi-use path on the new span is also planned to open by mid-to-late fall
You can check out the all of the blast videos below!
Demolition efforts of the old eastbound bridge actually started in January 2025.
Between then and the time of the first blast, we’ve been:
Taking slabs off the beams
Hauling them off the bridge
Processing them to make them ready to take to a recycler
And loading dump trucks and barges
All of this preliminary work positioned us for the next step – explosives.
The larger pieces of the bridge required an explosive process to demolish the structure.
All debris will be cleaned up and processed for recycling.
WHAT?
After more than 70 years of serving the Peoria metro area, the eastbound McClugage Bridge will be removed and replaced with a new structure to meet the region’s transportation needs. Potential alternatives for a new bridge were examined and public comments were considered in the initial phases of the project, allowing construction to begin in the Spring of 2019.
WHY?
In order to improve capacity, increase safety and reduce travel times, the new McClugage Bridge will replace the existing structure. Continuing IDOTs focus on improving multimodal capabilities and strengthening the traveling experience, the new bridge will include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
Did you
know?
The new eastbound McClugage Bridge will improve the traveling experience for all who cross – not only for existing needs, but future ones as well. The new structure, more than twice the width of the old bridge, will increase capacity by adding a third lane and shoulders, improve safety, reduce travel times and ensure additional multimodal access with bike and pedestrian accommodations.
