Sorry, Illinois-side drivers!

Construction of the new Interstate 74 Bridge is currently challenging for Illinois-side drivers

         Illinois drivers on Interstate 74 have such a wild route into Iowa now, it's a wonder they get anywhere in a timely manner.
The Interstate 74 Bridge between Bettendorf and Moline Ill., is being replaced in a $1.2 billion project. It is coordinated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, or DOT, and is the largest construction project in Iowa history.
This writer is taking a class during CommUniversity at Black Hawk College, Moline. It necessitates a 40-minute trip over the bridge on Sunday afternoons, and a return about 4 p.m.
Going to Moline is not too tough; there are plenty of warning signs posted ("Stay in Your Lane!") and traffic moves smoothly on a Sunday.
But the return trip? Oh my!
Black Hawk College is located between 60th and 70th streets in Moline, and is easily accessed off John Deere Road. Heading home, a driver needs to get in the "Davenport exit" lane well before the actual exit.
Once you've merged onto I-74, the speed is 55 miles-per-hour because of construction. Approaching the new bridge area it lowers to 45 miles-per-hour, and seemingly right after that drivers are warned to slow to 10 miles-per-hour. This is necessary because you must take a hair-pin turn to go under the approach and get in line along the street. Drivers will merge again onto the old bridge and the I-74 highway.
Now it's crowded and the speed limit is 35 miles-per-hour. Two lanes of traffic flush into downtown Bettendorf and line up along the exit lane. Hundreds of cars are backed up.
On a green light, the long line of vehicles moves along, past the Bettendorf one-way streets and once again to merge back on I-74. The speed here is 55 miles-per-hour and soon drivers are greeted with a welcome sign, "End Construction Zone."
Doing this on a daily basis has to try the patience of almost anyone, angel or not. The new bridge lanes into Bettendorf are to be completed in the "last part of 2020," officials have told the media.
Those open lanes can't come too soon for Illinois-side drivers!
This Iowa resident will take an alternate route (Interstate 80) to CommUniversity in Moline this weekend.

Note: There is a web page and project hotline in service, so interested parties can keep up on bridge progress. In addition the project is a focus in local media. For information: i74riverbridge.com