An I-74 Bridge 'Top 10'

    The Interstate 74 Bridge opening to the public was on the "must do" list Dec. 1. What a wonderful, historic way to welcome the month of December to our area!

    Here are the 'Top 10' impressions from yours truly, who moved to the Quad-Cities in 1982 -- around the first time the idea of the bridge came up:

    10. Porta-potties: Yep, there were several, on both sides of the half-way mark on the new bridge.

    9. Security: It was everywhere. The photo is of dump trucks, full of sand, parked diagonally. 

    8. The Big Screen: This was huge, and it showed pictures of how the bridge was built over the past few years.

    7. The buses: From Metrolink of the Quad-Cities, the shuttle buses moved hundreds of folks from the main lobby of The Taxslayer Center. The headlines reflected the joy of the day: 'I-74 WE MADE IT."

    6. Speech-makers: Mayors from the area spoke to a happy, appreciative crowd. My favorite was Moline Mayor Shangeetha Rayapati, who talked about how she crossed the old bridge as a child, coming from the east to visit family members in Iowa and Minnesota. She also mentioned driving across the old bridge, and how perilous it felt. No kidding!

    5. Bridge beauty: It was on display, including a stunning sculpture at the entrance.

    4. The Mississippi River: This view is of the 'Big Muddy' at its best. Vehicles are shown whizzing into Illinois at top.

    3. I got to go: I moved to Davenport, and the Quad-Cities in 1982 and this new bridge has been a topic of public discussion dating back some 30 years. It's a historic event.

    2. The pedestrian path: Now under construction, event-goers could see how the path would come out on the Moline side of the bridge. A white truck was parked in front of the path, probably for security reasons. 

    1. Those basket handles rock: Yes, they are as gorgeous close up, as they are from a distance. The photo below was taken in the center of the new bridge, looking up.

    Taxpayers paid for this bridge, which cost more than $1 billion. It was the largest construction project in Iowa history. It is a topic for us to discuss with our children and grandchildren.