The Murray Baker Bridge is a landmark

cantilever bridge A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed ...

that carries Interstate 74 (I-74) and Illinois Route 29 (IL 29) over the Illinois River from downtown Peoria to

East Peoria East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sunrise, Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from ...

in central

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Murray Baker Bridge was built in 1958, and had an original length of . The bridge itself is a single cantilever bridge, with two lanes in each direction. Because it has no shoulders, the Baker Bridge is not up to modern Interstate standards. The bridge is named for Murray M. Baker, who was the first vice president of the company that eventually became Caterpillar. Baker convinced the

Holt Manufacturing Company The Holt Manufacturing Company began with the 1883 founding of Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California, United States. Benjamin Holt, later credited with patenting the first workable crawler ("caterpillar") tractor design, incorporated ...

to move to Peoria in 1909. Holt merged with C.L. Best Gas Tractor Co. and became Caterpillar in 1925.

History

1984

The bridge underwent repairs in 1984.

2005 Reconstruction

As part of the ''Upgrade 74'' reconstruction project in 2005, the span's length was shortened to to make room for new entrance ramps on the west side of the river. On January 3, 2006, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the chief design consultant for the truss shortening, Alfred Benesch & Company, were awarded the 2006 Eminent Conceptor Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL). The project was picked out of a larger group of Honor Award recipients. The designer was also awarded the 2007 Prize Bridge Award by the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA).

2020 Reconstruction

The bridge was closed for construction on March 29, 2020. By removing traffic from the work zone, the repairs were completed in just one construction season, reducing the overall project cost and eliminating a safety risk to workers and motorists. Following extensive renovations, the Murray Baker Bridge rehabilitation was completed on schedule and reopened to the public on October 31, 2020. The project, one of the first under Governor Pritzker's historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, improved the critical travel corridor by closing the work zone to all traffic for seven months instead of multiple construction seasons. The $42.2 million rehabilitation project removed and replaced the existing bridge deck, repaired structural steel, repainted lower portions of the bridge and installed new lighting, resulting in a smoother, safer ride for commuter and freight traffic. As part of a joint effort with the City of Peoria, energy-efficient decorative lighting was added to enhance a community focal point. The Murray Baker Bridge carries almost 68,000 vehicles a day.

Photographs

Image:Murray Baker Bridge (East Peoria).jpg, From East Peoria Image:Murray Baker Bridge at night.jpg, Peoria downtown skyline at night

References

Bridges completed in 1958 Buildings and structures in Peoria, Illinois Interstate 74 Bridges over the Illinois River East Peoria, Illinois Bridges in Tazewell County, Illinois Bridges on the Interstate Highway System Cantilever bridges in the United States Road bridges in Illinois Bridges in Peoria County, Illinois {{Illinois-bridge-struct-stub