The Illinois Department of Transportation and the city of Moline announced Friday the start of the reconstruction of the Interstate 74 and John Deere Road (Illinois 5) interchange, a Quad Cities project funded through Gov. JB Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program.

The project will convert the interchange from a cloverleaf design to a diverging diamond and add a lane in each direction to I-74, the final piece in making the interstate six lanes through the Quad Cities. IDOT and the city were joined by local officials and community leaders for the announcement in Moline.

IDOT lists the project as a two-year, $95.8 million improvement. The release also refers to it as a $129 million project overall.

What's changing

The centerpiece is rebuilding the I-74 interchange with John Deere Road into a diverging diamond, which IDOT says improves traffic flow and increases safety by reducing potential collision points. According to IDOT, the design routes vehicles temporarily to the opposite side of John Deere Road and eliminates left turns across traffic entering and exiting I-74.

IDOT says the design has reduced crashes by half in some locations. Once completed, the interchange will be the first diverging diamond in the Quad Cities and the 10th in Illinois.

Other project components include reconstructing I-74 to three lanes in each direction between 27th Street and the Rock River, including replacing bridges over 38th Avenue, according to the release.

What officials said

"Roadway improvements not only make travel safer, but also support local job creation, spur economic growth and enhance regional mobility," Pritzker said in the release. "Fueled by Rebuild Illinois, the I-74 interstate reconstruction project ensures Illinoisans can access opportunities in the Quad City region and beyond."

"We are excited to get started on our next diverging diamond interchange, a popular and innovative approach to reduce congestion and improve safety," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. "In every corner of Illinois, we are working with our local partners to deliver projects like this one to set up communities for long-term success."

Background

Preliminary work on the interchange, including shoulder reconstruction, drainage work and temporary lighting, began in late August under a separate $8.9 million phase, according to IDOT's earlier announcements. The interchange, built in the 1970s, has tight curves and short merging lanes that IDOT says contribute to crashes.

More information on the project is posted on IDOT's website.

Source: the original release