Photos: Public celebration for the new I-74 bridge
Guests listen to Bettendorf mayor Bob Gallagher speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The sun shines over the arches of the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration of the bridge’s opening Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
The two bridges crossing the Mississippi River, spanning from the banks of Bettendorf to Moline, represent over 100 years of history for the Quad-Cities.
Media and other public officials gather during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Media and other public officials gather during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, center, and other local, state, and federal leaders celebrate cutting the ribbon during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
People stroll across the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Students and faculty of River Bend Middle School walk up the exit ramp of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
River Bend Middle School student CJ Struckman, 14, left, and fellow students take a look around during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Patriot Rider bugler Tracy Hepner, center, carries an American flag as she walks across the I-74 bridge during the public celebration Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Brenda and Dan Cunningham, of Davenport, center, walk together over the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Guests react as they take a stroll over the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Guests react as they take a stroll over the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Sylvia Rodts of Coal Valley, Angela Stewart of Moline, Jill Carr of Hampton and Beck Grimm of Moline pose for a photo during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River on Wednesday.
Cliff and Judy Herrick, of Moline, hold hands as they walk over the new I-74 bridge Wednesday.
Rachel Decker, of Rock Island, and Jonas Winn, of Rock Island, during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Guests wait for the local mayors to speak during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Guests listen to Bettendorf mayor Bob Gallagher speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Phill Rosales, of Moline, reacts as he walks over the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Phill Rosales, of Moline, reacts as he walks over the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Phill Rosales, of Moline, reacts as he walks over the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Eileen and Larry Tysma, of Hillsdale, take a selfie as they walk across the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Eileen and Larry Tysma, of Hillsdale, smile as they walk across the new I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Everly Fuller of Andover, 4, does cartwheels over the I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River on Wednesday.
Everly Fuller, of Andover, 4, does cartwheels over the I-74 bridge during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
People walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River on Wednesday.
I-74 corridor manager George Ryan speaks to students and faculty of River Bend Middle School during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Blue skies are seen above the arches of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker walk to their seats during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Guests wait for the local mayors to speak during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
People walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
East Moline mayor Reggie Freeman during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Dorthy Harmening, of East Moline, smiles for a portrait during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Linda Herron, of Fulton, and Wanda Wyatt, of Clinton, smile and wave as they walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Moline mayor Sangeetha Rayapati speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Students and faculty of River Bend Middle walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Rock Island mayor Mike Thoms speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
“We Made It!” sign is seen during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker applauds during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Local, state, and federal leaders celebrate cutting the ribbon during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker listens to speakers during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Guests wait for the local mayors to speak during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday.
Former Illinois Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk gives a thumbs up during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Guests react as they take a stroll over the new I-74 bridge Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
The old I-74 bridge is seen during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
A pair of scissors are laid out before the ribbon cutting during a public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Davenport mayor Mike Matson speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Michael Griffin with the Moline Police Department stands for the national anthem during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island before taking his seat during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
People walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 as part of a day-long celebration.
Guests wait for the local mayors to speak during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Bettendorf mayor Bob Gallagher speaks during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
People walk across the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
The streets of the new I-74 bridge are empty during the public celebration over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
People stand for the national anthem during the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
Dave Humes, of Moline, brought a Quad-Cities flag to the celebration on Wednesday. Many bridge-goers stopped for a photo-op with Humes, who got the Quad-Cities flag a decade ago, and has taken it in parades since.
Former Moline City Engineer Scott Hinton, poses for a photo on the new Illinois-bound span of the I-74 bridge.
Julie Goodwin, of Davenport, came to the I-74 bridge Wednesday to honor iron workers like her late husband. She's wearing her husband's tool belt, and describes him as fierce, independent, and hard working.
Kris Schafer, of Rock Island, poses on the new Illinois-bound span of the I-74 bridge. Schafer was looking forward to seeing what the pedestrian and bike path looked like.
Donnica Johnson, a 2011 Rock Island High School graduate, traveled from California to attend the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge. Johnson is holding a flag for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a Masonic youth service organization, and is donning a fez traditional of the Shriners, a Masonic organization Johnson formerly belonged to.
Donnica Johnson, a 2011 Rock Island High School graduate, traveled from California to attend the public celebration of the new I-74 bridge. Johnson is holding a flag for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a Masonic youth service organization, and is donning a fez traditional of the Shriners, a Masonic organization Johnson formerly belonged to.
The new I-74 bridge connecting Bettendorf and Moline represents increased efficiency, safety, and unity in the Quad-Cities.
More than a dozen residents and a majority of the Davenport City Council spoke in opposition to plans by Scott County to build a larger juvenile detention center in downtown Davenport Wednesday.