$25.3M bridge replacement in Rockton passes key milestone
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKTON — The Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday that the work to replace the Illinois Route 2 bridges over the Rock River is done. It’s a key milestone for the project, which still has some remaining demolition and road resurfacing work before it’s complete.
The $25.3 million project, which was part of the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, replaced the 60-year-old northbound and southbound bridges to allow for utilization by heavier vehicles.
The bridges, which were built in 1965, carry approximately 8,550 vehicles a day across the river between Rockford, Rockton, South Beloit and Beloit, Wisconsin, according to IDOT. The state said the structures had exceeded their lifespan, with a weight limit of 26 tons for a single vehicle and 40 tons for a combination vehicle.
Helm Civil of Freeport was awarded the construction bid, and work began in early 2024 to demolish and build the new structures by moving the southbound bridge to the median to serve as a tramway.
The new bridges have shoulders, and the southbound bridge allows for a future multiuse path.
While the bridges are complete and open, the total project is not done. Work continues to demolish the temporary tramway and resurface the road in the lead-up to the bridges. All work is expected to wrap up by summer.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
