Overview

Discover the history and construction of two Mississippi River crossings between Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. This detailed construction photo documentary traces the original suspension bridge opened in November 1935 and the iconic modern twin basket-handle true arch bridge opened in December 2021. Both bridges took an extensive vision, determination, and unprecedented community collaboration. Covering the history of the bridges, beginning with the need and ambition of local leaders to build a bridge across the Mississippi River in the early 20th century, through planning, funding during the great depression, and the legislative hurdles to build the first suspension bridge as well as the second span years later. From a toll bridge to an interstate highway, these bridges became the main thread that ties the Quad City region together. As need continued to grow, community leaders, states, and the federal government had to all collaborate and work together to see the new iconic twin basket-handle true arch bridge built. Tracing the timeline from the 1990s when local leaders began traveling to Washington DC to lobby for the bridge, through the regulatory requirements, this book traces the 25 years to see the new bridge built. With over 2060 personal photos, Mutka captures the process of how a bridge is built. From drilling into the Mississippi riverbed, to constructing the substructure, superstructure, arches and deck. Drawing from personal experience, interviews with community leaders, the original bridge designer, engineers, and the trades people who built this bridge. She also captures the complete demolition of the previous twin suspension bridges. From record setting floods, freezing winters and the COVID-19 pandemic-this book highlights challenges faced building over a major river as well as emphasizing the critical roles played by ironworkers, engineers, crane operators, and countless others. In homage to the skilled labor behind the project, Mutka makes sure to include the names of over 600 of the workers, as well as including 67 personal photos from ironworkers during fabrication and installation of the arches, and operating engineers looking down into the cofferdams and from the tower cranes. The book serves as a record for future generations of the men and women who came together to see this iconic bridge develop from a dream to reality.

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9781968802004

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Author Information

Tammy Mutka is a local Quad City photographer with a lifelong love of the Mississippi River and its bridges; the daughter of a tool and die maker, Mutka was raised to focus on the details, process, and final product equally. Her fascination with engineering and architecture comes through in her specialization in historical and documentary photography. She believes that each image should speak for itself and shares them in their unedited form, straight from the camera. She loves hiking and boating with her husband and dog and rarely leaves without grabbing her backpack and camera.

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