New I-74 bridge requires moving many mussels

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) - Divers will move about 450,000 mussels as part of the construction of a new bridge over the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities.

The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/2aId4oP ) workers began setting up Tuesday for the relocation of the threatened and endangered mussel species and will start the effort next week.

The work, which is being handled by Ecological Specialists Inc. of O'Fallon, Missouri, should be finished by October.

Iowa and Illinois are sharing the $2.4 million cost of moving the mussels, as required by the federal endangered species act.

The movement of the mussels is needed as crews build a new Interstate 74 bridge between Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois. The new six-lane bridge will cost about $1 billion and is expected to be opened to traffic in 2021.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com