Meredosia Bridge
Illinois River Highway Crossing
Meredosia, IL

Meredosia Bridge

• Structure ID: NBI 000069001615775
• Location: River Mile 71.3
• River Elevation: 420 Feet
• Highway: IL-104
• Daily Traffic Count: 2,400 (2005)
• Bridge Type: Steel Truss Through Deck
• Bridge Length: 2,232 Feet, 568 Foot Longest Span (Estimated)
• Bridge Width: 24 Feet, 2 Lanes
• Navigation Channel Width: 555 Feet
• Height Above Water: 72 Feet
• Date Built: Built 1936, Reconstructed 1984
This 1936 era big metal monster crosses the Illinois River on the west side of the small town of Meredosia. This bridge replaced an earlier wagon bridge. A railroad bridge once crossed the river a few hundred feet downstream from the highway bridge. The Meredosia bridge was reconstructed in 1984. A group of bad floor beams were discovered and fixed in the 1990s.

The bridge was quickly inspected and pronounced to be safe following the I-35W bridge collapse in August, 2007. Despite the bridge being safe, it has a very low sufficiency rating and is eligible for federal funds for replacement. As of late 2007, the Illinois Department of Transportation has earmarked $9-million to begin planning for a replacement bridge.

The city of Meredosia is famous as being one of the first cities in the United States to have a railroad line. The Northern Cross line started in 1838, and was one of the first 3 operating steam railroads in the US. There is a depot and caboose preserved as part of a small museum a few blocks south of IL-104.


Meredosia Bridge
Meredosia Bridge
Meredosia Bridge

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Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2007, all rights reserved.
For further information, contact: john@johnweeks.com