Peoria’s Cedar Street Bridge Closes June 1 for Months of Repairs, Adding to Summer Travel Chaos
The Cedar Street Bridge connecting Peoria and East Peoria closes June 1 for repairs lasting through August. The shutdown coincides with multiple ramp closures on I-74 and I-474, compounding summer travel headaches for Peoria drivers.
The Cedar Street Bridge between Peoria and East Peoria closes on June 1, cutting off one of the primary crossings over the Illinois River for the rest of the summer.
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced the closure will last into mid to late August. Crews will perform joint replacement, deck patching, and electrical work on the span that connects Washington Street in Peoria to Edmund Street in East Peoria.
"IDOT said that a detour would be posted for motorists seeking to travel from one side of the Illinois River to the other. They recommend that motorists allow extra time traveling through the area, as delays will be expected."
The bridge closure arrives just as Peoria drivers are facing a wave of ramp shutdowns on the area's freeway interchanges. IDOT District 4 announced that several ramps at the Interstate 74/474/Illinois Route 6 and U.S. 150/Illinois Route 6 interchanges close starting June 2 for pavement and guardrail repairs.
The ramp closures unfold in phases:
- June 2 for three to four weeks: Eastbound U.S. 150 to southbound Illinois Route 6, southbound Illinois Route 6 to westbound I-74, and westbound I-74 to southbound Illinois Route 6
- June 3 for one week: Westbound I-474 to eastbound I-74
- June 10 for three to four weeks: Southbound Illinois Route 6 to eastbound I-74
All ramp closures will have detours posted, according to IDOT.
The combined effect means Peoria commuters face months of detours, delays, and rerouted traffic. IDOT urged drivers to use alternative routes when feasible, obey posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices, and stay alert for workers and equipment in construction zones.
Residents who rely on the Cedar Street Bridge for daily commutes between Peoria and East Peoria will need to plan around the closure immediately. The bridge is one of the few road crossings connecting the two communities, and its absence will push more traffic onto remaining bridges and surface streets.
For real-time updates on IDOT District 4 projects, the department directs motorists to its traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com and its social media account @IDOTDistrict4.