Repairs Continue on New Reas Bridge
Repair work on the new Reas Bridge in Decatur is expected to continue through November while two lanes stay open.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Construction
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Repair work is underway at the new Reas Bridge in Decatur, needed to bring the project into compliance with its contract. Two lanes of traffic remain open during the work, and no road closures are expected.
Why it matters
The project cannot receive final acceptance until the repairs are complete. For Decatur drivers, the bridge stays open to traffic throughout the work.
The final price tag topped $32.7 million, up from an engineer's estimate of $12.5 million and a first bid of $18 million. Federal funding totaled $8 million, including $3.5 million secured by Durbin and $4.5 million secured by Davis.
The players
Durbin
Durbin secured $3.5 million in federal funding for the Reas Bridge project.
Davis
Davis secured $4.5 million in federal funding for the Reas Bridge project.
The details
Repair work is being performed on the new bridge to meet contract requirements while two lanes of traffic are maintained. Inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic drove up the cost of the project, which replaced the old Reas Bridge in Macon County.
Timeline
Repair work is expected to continue through November 2026.
Construction Context
The new Reas Bridge replaces the old structure, which was regarded as the worst bridge in Macon County in terms of structural condition. The replacement can carry heavy industrial traffic without weight restrictions, a capacity the old span lacked.
Drivers crossing the Reas Bridge in Decatur will continue to have two lanes open, with no road closures expected. The bridge can carry heavy industrial traffic without weight restrictions once the project is complete.
The takeaway
Large public infrastructure projects can grow well beyond initial estimates when inflation and pandemic-era costs intervene, and contract compliance can delay final acceptance even after a structure is open to traffic.
What happens next
Repair work is expected to continue through November, after which the project can receive final acceptance.
Further reading
For more on local projects like this, browse Construction coverage across the Decatur area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WAND-TV.
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