AMES, Iowa – June 19, 2008: 3:30 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is offering the following updates regarding the status of the Mississippi River bridges in southeast Iowa. The Iowa DOT is advising motorists to use the interstate bridges in the Quad Cities to cross between Iowa and Illinois.

•Iowa 2 (off of U.S. 61): The Fort Madison toll bridge in Lee County (also known as the Santa Fe Swing Span Bridge) that connects Fort Madison, Iowa, and Niota, Ill., is open. The bridge is the eastern terminus of Iowa 2, and western terminus of Illinois Route 9. Although this route has been reopened, Illinois Routes 9 and 96 are closed by high water heading east and north from Niota. Illinois Route 96 southbound from Niota is the only route open once you cross the bridge into Illinois. This route is closed south of Nauvoo, Ill..

•U.S. 34 bridge in Burlington: A levee breech in Gulfport, Ill., caused the U.S. 34 bridge at Burlington, Iowa, to close. This bridge remains closed.
•U.S. 136 bridge at Keokuk: The U.S. 136 crossing at Keokuk is presently open to only local traffic. Flaggers are in place to assist motorists. There are no more planned overnight bridge closures.
•U.S. 61 bridge west of Keokuk in Alexandria, Missouri: The U.S. 61 bridge over Des Moines River is under water at the Des Moines River near the Mississippi River.

•Iowa 92 bridge at Muscatine: While the Iowa 92 bridge in Muscatine is open, several connecting roadways are closed, making it difficult to reach destinations beyond Muscatine. The open state routes out of Muscatine currently include: Iowa 38 north to Interstate 80 and U.S. 61 east to the Quad Cities.

Update on Missouri and Illinois bridges impacting Iowa travelers

•U.S. 54: in Pike County - The Champ Clark Bridge on U.S. 54 over the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Missouri (between Hannibal and St. Louis) is closed due to flooding on the Illinois approach to bridge.

•Quincy, Ill., crossings: The Bayview Bridge on U.S. 24 with nearby connections to Ill. 96 in Quincy is open and temporarily carrying traffic in both directions. The Memorial Bridge remains closed due to high water.

•U.S. 27: in Clark County – The bridge over the Des Moines River at St. Francisville at the Iowa state line remains open and is expected to remain open.

•I-72: in Marion County - The Mark Twain Memorial Bridge in Hannibal remains open as long as Sny Island Levee holds on the Illinois side of the bridge.
•The water was 28.13 ft. at 11 a.m. today. The river is predicted to crest at 31.4 feet Friday, June 20 around 1 p.m.

•U.S. 24 east: in Marion County - The Bayview Bridge into Quincy, Illinois is open to two-way traffic and will remain open as long as the levee holds on the Missouri side of the bridge. The water level was 28.14 ft. at 11 a.m. today. The river is predicted to crest at 31.9 feet Friday, June 20 around 7 a.m.