UPDATE #3: Roundtable with DOT & Legislators

To everyone who signed our petition calling for suicide prevention barriers and measures on our Quad Cities bridges: We haven’t forgotten and we haven’t stopped working toward change.

We know many of you have been waiting for updates and we want you to know that your voices continue to be part of these conversations.

The Gray Matters Collective and SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) brought together legislators, public officials, DOT leaders, first responders, and community advocates from both sides of the Mississippi River to discuss suicide prevention barriers and additional safety measures on our bridges.

The morning included an educational presentation from Anna Reese with SAVE, a roundtable discussion about solutions and next steps, and a walk across the I-74 bridge.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us today. Your time and attention is CRUCIAL!

Legislators & Congressional Representation:

• Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson
• Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin
• Joscelyn Rowe — Office of U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen
• Iowa State Rep. Mike Vondran
• Iowa State Rep. Dan Gosa

Illinois Department of Transportation:

• Ken Zimny
• Mark Schaffer
• Michael J. Kuehn
• Derrick Lopez

Iowa Department of Transportation:

• Jesse Tibodeau
• Daniel Yeh
• Ahmad Afifeh

First Responders & Community Partners:

• Amy Thoreson — Scott County Health Department
• Fire Chief Steve Regenwether — Moline Fire Department
• Anna Reese — SAVE
• Jon Zumkehr — USP Thomson Local 4070
• Haley DeGreve and Dan McNeil — The Gray Matters Collective

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the need for suicide prevention measures on our bridges. Today was about moving those conversations toward action.

The next steps discussed give us hope that meaningful progress is possible across all of our Quad Cities bridges. There’s still work to do, but seeing so many people willing to work together across agencies and state lines is encouraging.

Thank you to everyone who came to the table. Let’s keep moving forward.

ACTION: Now, there’s another opportunity for your voice to be heard.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is accepting public comments regarding the Centennial Bridge through November 4, 2026.

We strongly encourage everyone to submit comments asking that suicide prevention barriers and additional safety measures be included in plans for the bridge. This is an important opportunity to make suicide prevention part of the conversation as decisions about the bridge’s future are made.

Submit your comments by November 4: https://www.centennialbridge.com/contact-us

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