Traffic patterns over the Mississippi River in Quincy are shifting for the next several weeks as the eastbound Quincy Memorial Bridge on U.S. 24 has shut down for emergency repairs.
The closure was prompted by the failure of an expansion joint that began impacting the bridge’s driving surface, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The issue was discovered Monday night, and the agency immediately closed the span as a safety precaution. Repairs are expected to take about four weeks to complete, weather permitting.
What Went Wrong
IDOT officials explained that expansion joints are designed to allow bridge decks to expand and contract as temperatures change. Without that flexibility, pavement can crack and structural stress can increase, potentially creating unsafe driving conditions.
According to the department, the repairs will be handled by IDOT’s in-house construction team to expedite the work. The project will include replacing concrete that had to be removed to access and repair the failed joint, along with any other repairs that may be necessary once construction begins.
“We apologize for any inconvenience to the traveling public while these essential repairs are being made,” IDOT Region 4 Engineer Teresa Price said in a statement. “Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to reopening the bridge as soon as safely possible.”
Traffic Shifted to Bayview Bridge
During the closure, all traffic is being rerouted to the nearby Bayview Bridge, which normally carries westbound U.S. 24 traffic. According to IDOT, the Bayview Bridge has been converted to accommodate two-way traffic while repairs are underway.
Motorists should expect delays and allow extra time for trips across the river, the department said. Drivers are urged to pay close attention and obey posted speed limits as traffic patterns adjust.
The closure affects a key regional crossing used by local drivers, daily commuters and commercial freight traffic traveling between Illinois and Missouri.
About the Bridges at Quincy
The Quincy Memorial Bridge opened in 1930 and carries eastbound U.S. 24 traffic from Missouri into Illinois. The structure is a truss bridge and originally operated as a toll bridge until its construction bonds were paid off in the 1940s.
The Bayview Bridge opened in 1987 as a cable stayed bridge designed to accommodate growing traffic volumes and relieve pressure on the older Memorial span. Since its completion, traffic has been split between the two crossings.
Long-Term Plans Already in Motion
Because the Memorial Bridge is nearing a century old, long-term replacement plans have already been established.
According to IDOT’s latest multi-year highway improvement program, the bridge is scheduled for full replacement as a joint project with the Missouri Department of Transportation, with construction tentatively planned to begin in 2029.
For now, IDOT officials say the focus remains on repairing the failed expansion joint and reopening the Memorial Bridge as safely and quickly as possible.
Until then, drivers crossing the Mississippi River at Quincy should expect delays, allow extra travel time and use caution as traffic patterns adjust.
