Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial 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.

Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge
Coordinates	42°06′16″N 90°09′38″W
Carries	2 lanes of US 52 / Iowa 64 / IL 64
Crosses	Mississippi River, BNSF Railway
Locale	Savanna, Illinois / Jackson County, near Sabula, Iowa, River Mile 537.8
Official name	Dale Gardner Veterans Memorial Bridge
Other name(s)	Savanna-Sabula Bridge
Named for	Dale Gardner
Maintained by	Illinois Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design	steel tied-arch
Total length	2,454 ft (748 m)
Width	40 ft (12 m)
Longest span	546 ft (166 m)
No. of spans	12
Clearance below	65 ft (20 m)
No. of lanes	2
History
Constructed by	Kraemer North America, Bumpy's Steel Erection
Construction start	2016
Construction cost	$80 Million
Opened	November 17, 2017
Replaces	Savanna-Sabula Bridge
Location

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 1 foot (30 cm) and 5 feet (1.5 m) causing a visible change to the structure.^[2] The causeway bridge was deemed unsafe until the replacement was complete. The closure necessitated a 36-mile (58 km) 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]

References

1. "New Savanna-Sabula Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
2. Hartman, Phillip (February 28, 2018). "Bridge closed near Savanna; drivers asked to take 36-mile detour". SaukValley.com. Sterling, Illinois. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
3. Times online staff (August 31, 2018). "Mississippi River Bridge between Savanna, Sabula to open later today". Quad-City Times. Davenport, Iowa. Retrieved 2018-08-31.

See also

• List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River