Crosses Illinois River ID number 000090012230539 Length 721 m Clearance below 20 m Body of water Illinois River | Official name Robert Michel Bridge Opened 1993 Width 19 m Location Peoria | |
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Carries 4 lanes of ILL 40, sidewalk Locale Peoria, Illinois and East Peoria, Illinois Maintained by Illinois Department of Transportation Similar Murray Baker Bridge, Cedar Street Bridge, McClugage Bridge, Lacon Bridge, Franklin Street Bridge | ||
Elephants crossing the bob michel bridge
The Bob Michel Bridge carries Illinois Route 40 over the Illinois River just .75 miles (1.21 km) up-river from the Cedar Street Bridge. Illinois 40 terminates at an interchange with Interstate 74 just east of the bridge. The bridge serves as a direct surface route from a major commercial center in East Peoria to the Civic Center in downtown Peoria. When completed in 1993, the Bob Michel Bridge replaced the antiquated Franklin Street Bridge, a bascule and truss bridge, which had been located on an adjacent site since 1913. The Bob Michel Bridge is the only river crossing in the Peoria area to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.
Prior to the development of the area as a commercial center, the Michel Bridge served a largely industrial area in East Peoria, including many buildings owned by nearby Caterpillar, Inc. The bridge was located at the end of an exit named "Industrial Spur". It has since been renamed to "Riverfront Drive" to account for the new commercial complex.
The Bob Michel Bridge is named after former Congressman Robert H. Michel, a Peoria-area Republican who served as a Congressman from 1957 to 1995 and as House Minority Leader from 1981 until his retirement.
The bridge is located at mile 162.3 of the Illinois River.