McClugage Bridge will close for demolition of old piers. Here's what to expect
The McClugage Bridge will be closed Monday night for the first of several attempts to demolish piers of the old eastbound span of the structure.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said both directions of U.S. 150 from Adams Street in Peoria to Illinois Route 116 in East Peoria will be closed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to allow contractors to demolish concrete piers 23 to 25 on the Tazewell County side of the bridge.
According to IDOT, because contractors are expected to use explosive charges to demolish the old piers, the closure is necessary. The closure will begin 30 minutes before the explosion and will end once it is deemed safe to do so. The explosion will commence once all roads are closed, the security perimeter is deemed safe and the contractors have completed final safety checks.
Work on the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge is nearing completion.
Adams Street – also known as Illinois Route 29 – will remain open in both directions, with people being rerouted off of U.S. 150 at interchange ramps.
IDOT plans to demolish the piers from east to west, with future blast dates set to be determined. However, each will follow a similar schedule, all being destroyed between the hours of 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A security perimeter will be in place around the blast area on land and water. Pedestrians aiming to watch the explosion are advised that they should not go on other's private property without their permission.
Drones will be used to help ensure a safe demolition. Anyone operating a drone must keep them at least 1,000 feet north of the bridge and at least 300 feet above ground. Any drone that goes into this zone may end up causing the postponement of the blast and make their pilot liable for delays to the contractor.
IDOT says this is the sixth event to remove older components of the structure.
