It could get a little less congested crossing the I-74 Bridge in the Quad Cities. 

That’s the goal of a joint initiative by Davenport’s Citibus and Moline’s MetroLINK buses.

They’re getting more than $1.3 million from the Iowa Department of Transportation to provide more options for people who don’t want to make the drive themselves.

Construction on the bridge has doubled Marcellius Williamson’s commute from 15 to 30 minutes. 

“Traffic is more backed up than usual. And before construction even started it was already backed up, so that just made it even worse,” says Williamson, who lives in Moline.  

And the work isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. 

“Especially when it’s down to one lane in each direction, there definitely is going to be some additional congestion,” says MetroLINK administration manager Jennifer Hirsch. 

The partnership between Citibus and MetroLINK means rehabbing four buses.

“There will be WiFi on all those buses. The buses will have their own identity, schedule,” says Hirsch. 

It will also mean two new routes during the 18 months of busiest construction on the I-74 Bridge. 

“From Bettendorf over the existing bridge to Centre Station. And then also another route from Bettendorf to Davenport GTC and over to District Station in Rock Island,” Hirsch says. 

With more than 74,000 drivers crossing the bridge everyday, the goal is to get more of them across the river more efficiently. 

“If you’re going to sit in traffic, sit on the I-74 Bridge you might as well sit on a bus where you can be on social media, check your email, read a book. So it’s just a nice alternative,” says Hirsch. 

The initiative might already have a new rider in Mitchell Ellison, who crosses the I-74 Bridge about five times a week.

“I’d utilize it, I’d try it out, yeah, why not?” Ellison says. 

Officials hope to have the new buses and routes up and running by the fall.

Davenport’s committee of the whole gave its OK on Wednesday night to allocate the funding.

An alderman tells Local 4 News he expects it to pass the full city council next week.