{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox Bridge | bridge_name = Bob Michel Bridge | image = Bob Michel Bridge, Peoria, Illinois.jpg | caption = Bob Michel Bridge over the Illinois River in Peoria, Illinois | official_name = Robert Michel Bridge | carries = 4 lanes of ILL 40, sidewalk | crosses = Illinois River | locale = Peoria, Illinois and East Peoria, Illinois | maint = Illinois Department of Transportation | id = 000090012230539 | design = Steel girder | mainspan = | length = 2,365 ft (720.9 m) | width = 62.0 ft (18.9 m) | height = | load = 44.1 metric tons | clearance = | below = 65.9 ft (20.1 m)<ref name=lightlist>{{cite uscgll|5|2006|}}</ref> | traffic = 18,600<ref name=idot>{{cite web |url=http://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/default.aspx?ql=aadt |title=Getting Around Illinois: AADT |author=Illinois Department of Transportation |year=2003 |access-date=2007-03-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219183527/http://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/default.aspx?ql=aadt |archive-date=2007-02-19 }}</ref> | cost = $60 million | open = 1993 | closed = | replaces = Franklin Street Bridge | toll = | map_cue = | map_image = | map_text = | map_width = | coordinates = {{coord|40.684511|-89.591886|display=inline,title}} }}

The '''Bob Michel Bridge''' (formerly called '''Franklin Street Bridge'''<ref>{{Illinois road map|year=1994|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>) carries Illinois Route 40 over the Illinois River 0.75&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(1.21&nbsp;km) up-river from the Cedar Street Bridge. Illinois 40 terminates at an interchange with Interstate 74 just east of the bridge. The bridge serves as a direct surface route from a major commercial center in East Peoria to the Civic Center in downtown Peoria. When completed in 1993, the Bob Michel Bridge replaced the antiquated Franklin Street Bridge, a bascule and truss bridge, which had been located on an adjacent site since 1913.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1993 |title=Peoria's structure seemingly cursed history is water under the bridge |pages=16 |work=Arlington Heights Daily Herald |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/illinois/arlington-heights/arlington-heights-daily-herald-suburban-chicago/1993/12-19/page-16/ |access-date=2023-09-28}}</ref> The Bob Michel Bridge is the only river crossing in the Peoria area to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

Prior to the development of the area as a commercial center, the Michel Bridge served a largely industrial area in East Peoria, including many buildings owned by nearby Caterpillar, Inc. The bridge was located at the end of an exit named "Industrial Spur". It has since been renamed to "Riverfront Drive" to account for the new commercial complex.

The Bob Michel Bridge is named after former Congressman Robert H. Michel, a Peoria-area Republican who served as a Congressman from 1957 to 1995 and as House Minority Leader from 1981 until his retirement.

The bridge is located at mile 162.3 of the Illinois River.<ref name=lightlist/>

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{{Crossings navbox |structure = Crossings |place = Illinois River |bridge = Bob Michel Bridge |bridge signs = x20px |upstream = Murray Baker Bridge |upstream signs = x20pxx20px |downstream = Cedar Street Bridge |downstream signs = x20pxx20px }}

Category:Bridges over the Illinois River Category:Bridges completed in 1993 Category:Buildings and structures in Peoria, Illinois Category:East Peoria, Illinois Category:Bridges in Tazewell County, Illinois Category:Steel bridges in the United States Category:Girder bridges in the United States Category:Road bridges in Illinois Category:Bridges in Peoria County, Illinois Category:1993 establishments in Illinois

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