PUBLIC MEETING SET NOVEMBER 18 ON FUTURE OF JOE PAGE BRIDGE AT HARDIN

HARDIN, Ill. — Residents of Calhoun and Greene counties will have an opportunity next month to review possible plans for the future of the Joe Page Bridge, the vital Illinois River crossing that carries Illinois Routes 16 and 100 at Hardin.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has scheduled a public open house for Wednesday, November 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Calhoun High School, 102 Calhoun Avenue in Hardin. The meeting will focus on a preliminary study of whether the aging bridge should be rehabilitated or replaced.

According to IDOT, display boards will explain proposed corridors being considered for additional study, along with engineering, environmental and land-acquisition considerations. Transportation officials and representatives of project consultant Hanson Professional Services will be available to speak with visitors and answer questions.

The meeting is designed as an open house rather than a traditional presentation. Residents can arrive during the scheduled hours, examine the materials and submit written comments. IDOT says it is looking for public input before the next stage of the planning process.

The bridge is a defining piece of transportation infrastructure in the region. Its 1931 steel-truss structure spans roughly 2,150 feet and includes a vertical-lift section to accommodate river traffic. Major structural, mechanical and electrical rehabilitation was performed in 2004.

The crossing serves communities on both sides of the Illinois River. For many travelers, the alternatives involve significant extra driving or ferry service subject to river conditions. Decisions about construction corridors and possible future bridge work could therefore affect commuters, emergency services, agriculture and businesses.

IDOT says the Phase I preliminary engineering and environmental process is evaluating options, not announcing a final construction plan. The public meeting does not mean the bridge is closing, and no final replacement design has been selected in the information released for this meeting.

Comments received by December 1 will be included in the official public meeting record. Those unable to attend can contact IDOT project engineer Matthew Meyer at 618-346-3160 or Matthew.Meyer@illinois.gov. Further project information is available at JoePageBridge.com.

Source: Illinois Department of Transportation announcement dated October 20, 2026, and the IDOT Joe Page Bridge study website.