▁The ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁bridge ▁sp anning ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁River ▁is ▁estimated ▁at ▁more ▁than ▁$ 7 0 0 ▁million , ▁while ▁the ▁project ▁as ▁a ▁whole , ▁including ▁all ▁approach ▁routes ▁and ▁connect ors , ▁is ▁estimated ▁at ▁$ 1 . 2 ▁billion . ▁ ▁While ▁on ▁a ▁tour ▁at ▁the ▁base ▁of ▁the ▁bridge ▁in ▁B ett endorf ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁U . S . ▁Transport ation ▁Secretary ▁Ray ▁La H ood ▁said ▁that , ▁in ▁comparison ▁with ▁other ▁brid ges ▁that ▁he ▁has ▁seen ▁in ▁other ▁states , ▁the ▁current ▁I - 7 4 ▁Bridge ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁worst ▁he ' s ▁seen . ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁bridge ▁will ▁be ▁just ▁up stream ▁of ▁the ▁existing ▁bridge ▁and ▁will ▁be ▁a ▁basket - handle , ▁true - arch ▁tw in ▁bridge ▁with ▁four ▁lan es ▁in ▁each ▁direction ▁and ▁a ▁ped est rian / b icy cle ▁path . ▁A ▁ground - bre aking ▁ceremony ▁for ▁the ▁new ▁bridge ▁was ▁held ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁The ▁west bound ▁bridge ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁be ▁completed ▁in ▁late ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁and ▁the ▁east bound ▁span ▁is ▁expected ▁to ▁be ▁completed ▁in ▁late ▁ 2 0 2 0 . ▁The ▁existing ▁I - 7 4 ▁bridge ▁is ▁anticip ated ▁to ▁be ▁removed ▁in ▁ 2 0 2 1 . ▁Winter ▁weather ▁conditions ▁and ▁the ▁resulting ▁high ▁water ▁over ▁an ▁extended ▁period ▁of ▁time , ▁however ,