Savanna-Sabula Bridge
Dedication Plaque - Mounted on the Northeast Jersey Barrier
Written by J.R. Manning
BUILT THIS BRIDGE
THE LOYALTY AND COURAGE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE "SHORTENED ROUTE" WHICH HAS BEEN CREATED BY THIS RIVER CROSSING, ARE THE THINGS WHICH HAVE MADE THIS STRUCTURE POSSIBLE.
REALIZING THE NECESSITY OF PROVIDING MORE ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES TO KEEP UP WITH THE EVER INCREASING DEMANDS OF TRAFFIC, AND DESIRING TO STIMULATE STILL FURTHER COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE BETWEEN THE STATES OF IOWA AND ILLINOIS AS WELL AS AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF THE MOTOR TRAVELLING PUBLIC, THE CITIZENS OF OF THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THIS ROUTE HAVE BANDED TOGETHER IN A COMMON EFFORT TO TRUN THEIR DREAMS INTO A PHYSICAL REALITY.
WITH BOUNDLESS FAITH AND UNLIMITED COURAGE, THEY HAVE "CARRIED ON" THRU EVERY HAZARD, MEETING EACH REBUKE WITH RENEWED ENERGY AND INCREASED DETERMINATION TO WIN.
THE PHYSICAL RESULTS OF THEIR EFFORTS ARE BEFORE YOU IN THESE BRIDGES AND CONNECTING HIGHWAYS. THE LESS TANGIBLE RESULTS OF PROMOTING THE COMMON WELFARE CAN ONLY BE MEASURED IN THE YEARS OF SERVICE AHEAD.
TO THESE, THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE NEW ROUTE BETWEEN CHICAGO AND CEDAR RAPIDS, WE DEDICATE THIS BRIDGE.
DATED DECEMBER 1, 1932
Facts
- Overview
- Cantilevered through truss bridge over the Mississippi River on US 52/IL 64/IA 64 at Savanna
- Location
- Carroll County, Illinois, and Jackson County, Iowa
- Status
- Open to traffic
- Future prospects
- Slated for replacement. Construction of the bridge will start in 2015. Cantilever bridge is available for taking for free by the IDOT but it must be relocated. Bridge will be demolished if no one takes it.
- History
- Built 1932; rehabilitated 1985; Scheduled for replacement beginning 2015
- Builder
- - Minneapolis Bridge Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Design
- Cantilevered through truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 519.9 ft.
Total length: 2,480.3 ft. (0.5 mi.)
Deck width: 20.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 17.2 ft.
- Recognition
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on August 27, 1999
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +42.10417, -90.16056 (decimal degrees)
42°06'15" N, 90°09'38" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/734781/4665244 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Savanna
- Inventory numbers
- IL 008-6000 (Illinois bridge number)
IA 29940 (Iowa bridge number)
NRHP 99001033 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 15054 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection (as of 08/2011)
- Deck condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 30.5 (out of 100) - Average daily traffic (as of 2009)
- 2,100
Update Log
- February 18, 2013: Updated by Jason Smith: Added link about the bridge being given away
- February 9, 2013: Updated by Jason Smith: Updated the status of the bridge per latest article (see forum)
- May 2, 2012: Essay added by J.R. Manning
- December 10, 2011: Updated by J.P.: added warren to design
- February 25, 2011: Updated by Nathan Holth: This bridge is now doomed.
- May 8, 2010: New photos from Quinn Phelan
- May 4, 2010: Updated by Robert Stephenson: Added builder
- April 20, 2010: Updated by Nathan Holth: Updated bridge info.
Sources
- Quinn Phelan - qphelan [at] earthlink [dot] net
- Nathan Holth
- Robert Stephenson - seinfeld99 [at] yahoo [dot] com
- J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
- J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
- Demolition Project Website
- Jason Smith - JDSmith77 [at] gmx [dot] net
- Sabula-Savanna Bridge up for the taking- Anyone interested?
Comments
"Sure we'd love this beautiful historic bridge maintained--by someone else!" IDiOTs.
The 30 day removal requirement is patently absurd for a bridge of this size. I seriously doubt IDOT could find a contractor to completely remove a Mississippi River bridge in less than 30 days, even if price were no object, so what hope does anybody else have?
What a load of crap, maintain forever. I actually think it is five years, and then they make up new rules about inspections and maintenance costing a fortune.
Too bad IDOT (or IDiOT as Kim calls them) doesn't take this "maintain forever" stance on their historic bridges! Pretty stinking hilarious that they want someone else to!
Practice what you preach guys!!!
This bridge is up for the taking by IDOT, for FREE! BUT, there is one catch- see article below:
Any takers for the bridge?
IDOT now has a project website for this bridge: http://www.dot.state.il.us/us52il64/overview.html
Although and environmental assessment is now mentioned, I still see no evidence of Section 106 being conducted yet.
IDOT is now filing for an environmental survey for the replacement project. Proposed project described as "Complete replacement of the structure (SN 008-6000) bridge on a new roadway alignment to carry US 52/IL 64 over the Mississippi River at Savanna. Culvert replacement and geometric improvements to IL 84 from Savanna to entrance to Palisades State Park" This should begin the process which will trigger Section 106.
That's IDiOT for you.
DOT Officials recently discovered a historic cantilever truss bridge in the Mississippi River Watershed that they do not have demolition plans for. They are acting swiftly to correct this. Although the project has not yet been mentioned in any local news articles, I have learned that IDOT District 2 plans to give a presentation describing a "Savanna-Sabula Bridge Replacement"... even though Section 106 has NOT yet been conducted and as such they have no legal right to claim that replacement is the feasible and prudent option.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/il/carroll/8600001777/