Murray Baker Bridge
Murray Baker Bridge | |
|---|---|
Murray Baker Bridge from riverside in East Peoria. | |
| Coordinates | 40°41′16″N 89°35′00″W / 40.68778°N 89.58333°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of I-74 / IL 29 |
| Crosses | Illinois River |
| Locale | Peoria, Illinois and East Peoria, Illinois |
| Maintained by | Illinois Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 000090000119656 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridge |
| Total length | Original: 3,216 feet (980 m) Current: 3,036 feet (925 m) |
| Longest span | 182 meters (597 ft) |
| Load limit | 52.2 metric tons |
| Clearance above | 14.4 feet (4.4 m) |
| Clearance below | 48.9 feet (14.9 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Rebuilt | 2005, 2020 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 68,000 |
| Location | |
The Murray Baker Bridge is a landmark cantilever bridge that carries Interstate 74 (I-74) and Illinois Route 29 (IL 29) over the Illinois River from downtown Peoria to East Peoria in central Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Murray Baker Bridge was built in 1958, and had an original length of 3,216 feet (980 m).
The bridge itself is a single cantilever bridge, with two lanes in each direction. Because it has no shoulders, the Baker Bridge is not up to modern Interstate standards.
The bridge is named for Murray M. Baker, who was the first vice president of the company that eventually became Caterpillar. Baker convinced the Holt Manufacturing Company to move to Peoria in 1909. Holt merged with C.L. Best Gas Tractor Co. and became Caterpillar in 1925.