Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge | |
Image Upright: | 1.35 |
Also Known As: | Savanna-Sabula Bridge |
Coordinates: | 42.1044°N -90.1606°W |
Carries: | 2 lanes of |
Crosses: | Mississippi River, BNSF Railway |
Locale: | Savanna, Illinois / Jackson County, near Sabula, Iowa, River Mile 537.8 |
Official Name: | Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge |
Named For: | Dale Gardner |
Maint: | Illinois Department of Transportation |
Design: | steel tied-arch |
Length: | 2454feet |
Width: | 40feet |
Mainspan: | 546feet |
Number Spans: | 12 |
Clearance Below: | 65feet |
Lanes: | 2 |
Builder: | Kraemer North America, Bumpy's Steel Erection |
Begin: | 2016 |
Cost: | $80 Million |
Open: | November 17, 2017 |
Replaces: | Savanna-Sabula Bridge |
The Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge, often referred to as the New Savanna-Sabula Bridge, or by the same name as its predecessor, the Savanna-Sabula Bridge, is a steel tied-arch that carries U.S. Route 52 (US 52) across the Mississippi River. It connects the city of Savanna, Illinois, with the island city of Sabula, Iowa. Construction on the span began in 2016 and it opened on November 17, 2017. It was erected by Bumpy's Steel Erection of East St. Louis, Illinois and Edward Kraemer & Sons of Plain, Wisconsin.[1] The bridge replaced the Savanna–Sabula Bridge, which was located a few yards to the north.
The Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge was closed on February 27, 2018 while an adjoining causeway was replaced. The Running Slough Bridge had sunk between 1feet and 5feet causing a visible change to the structure.[2] The causeway bridge was deemed unsafe until the replacement was complete. The closure necessitated a 36miles detour to Clinton, Iowa/Fulton, Illinois. A complimentary ferry service between Savanna and Sabula began operations on June 12. The bridge was re-opened on August 31, 2018.[3]