Costs
What a Breakdown Near the Bob Michel Bridge Costs in Peoria
Near the Bob Michel Bridge in Peoria, the spot where your car quits can matter as much as the miles. A car dead in a lane on the half-mile deck is a harder job than one parked on Kumpf Boulevard or in an East Peoria lot. Next comes the shop: on your side of the river, or across it. And if police have to clear the car, city fees can stack on top. Call early and name your exact spot.
Why is a stall on the deck a bigger job?
Think about the space your driver has to work in. The bridge has two lanes each way. IDOT's plan for the 2023 rebuild trimmed the outside shoulder to 3.5 feet. That made room for a 14-foot walking and bike path behind a concrete wall. So there's no wide strip where a truck can tuck in.
A car that dies out on the span usually sits partly in a travel lane. Your driver has to stop in traffic, light up the truck and hook up fast. About 17,000 cars a day use this crossing. Every one of them has to get past.
Compare that to a car that dies in a parking lot by the river. Your driver can pull right up, take time and load it with room on all sides. Same car, same problem, much easier setup.
That's why the first thing a dispatcher asks is where the car is. Not just "the bridge," but where on it.
Can you just leave it on the bridge?
No. Illinois law says you can't stop on a bridge. The only exception is a car so disabled that stopping can't be avoided. If your car still rolls, keep it moving and get off the span. A car that coasts onto solid ground is often a simpler job than one stuck in the middle.
Where does the bridge start and end?
Illinois 40 is the road that runs over the bridge. Each end has its own street name, and your driver needs to know which one you mean.
| Where you stopped | What to say | How the job looks |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria side, before the span | "On Kumpf Boulevard, heading to the bridge" | City street, more room to work |
| On the deck | "On the Bob Michel Bridge, eastbound, right lane" | Tight, in traffic, call 911 if you're in a live lane |
| East Peoria side | "On Washington Street, just off the bridge" | Short stretch before the ramp |
| The ramp to I-74 | "On the ramp to I-74, past the bridge" | Ramp with a Camp Street exit, harder to reach |
On the Peoria side, Illinois 40 is Knoxville Avenue up north. It crosses over I-74, then makes three turns in a single downtown block. After that it becomes William Kumpf Boulevard and climbs onto the bridge. On the East Peoria side, it's briefly Washington Street. Then it feeds onto an I-74 ramp, with an exit for Camp Street.
Those downtown turns trip people up. If you're not sure which street you're on, look for a sign. Or share your phone's location when you call.
Which side of the river should your car go to?
The bridge ties downtown Peoria's Warehouse District to the East Peoria Levee District. Lots of people cross it for dinner, a game or a show, then head home the other way.
Here's how that plays out. You drive over from Peoria for a night out in East Peoria. Your car won't start when you leave. Your mechanic is back in Peoria. That tow has to cross the river. A shop on the East Peoria side might mean a much shorter trip.
Distance is a big part of any tow price. So before you call, ask yourself one thing: does the car need to cross the river at all?
Keep in mind that the other bridges are busy too. The McClugage Bridge on US 150 is down to one span for both directions while IDOT rebuilds the westbound side. I-74 crosses on the Murray Baker Bridge. Name the bridge you're on so your driver doesn't head to the wrong one.
What if the police order the tow?
This is the costly path, and you can often avoid it. Illinois law lets police have a car removed right away if it's wrecked or left unattended and causing a traffic hazard. On a narrow bridge, a dead car in a lane can be exactly that.
When the police order the tow, you don't pick the company or the shop. You don't get a price up front. The car goes to a lot, and then you have to get it back.
In Peoria, getting a police tow back works like this, according to the city:
- Call the Peoria Police Information Office at 309-494-8301. Ask about impound fees and where the car is.
- Expect towing and storage charges on top of any impound fee. They're billed separately.
- Storage starts 24 hours after the car reaches the lot, so each day you wait adds to the bill.
- Bring a picture driver's license or state picture ID, proof you own the car and proof of insurance.
- If the car was part of a police case, an investigator has to send a release memo first.
Sentinel doesn't do impounds or police tows, and we can't get a towed car released. The best way to stay out of that line is to call for your own tow as soon as the car stops.
Does what broke change the price?
Yes. The job matters as much as the place. Tell the dispatcher what the car did, not just that it stopped.
- Won't start in a Levee District lot: a jump start might be all you need, and no tow at all.
- Flat tire on Washington Street: if you have a good spare, a flat tire change can happen where you are.
- Out of gas on the deck: fuel can help, but working next to traffic on a thin shoulder is risky. Your dispatcher may suggest moving the car off the span first.
- Smoke, a leak, a bent wheel or a hit on the barrier: don't drive it. Ask for a car tow to your shop.
Your vehicle counts too. A compact car, an all-wheel-drive SUV and a light pickup each load a little differently. Give the make and model, and say if a wheel won't roll.
Does weather or bridge work change the job?
It can change where your car ends up. A bridge deck can ice over before the streets do. If you slide into the barrier, a quick jump can turn into a tow. Our guide to crossing the bridge on icy nights covers how to drive it in winter.
IDOT also closes lanes for upkeep. In 2025, deck sealing and a routine inspection each left just one lane open each way. With only one lane, a stalled car blocks every driver behind it. That's the kind of hazard police can clear right away. Check Getting Around Illinois before you cross during work.
What should you tell the dispatcher to get the right price?
- Your spot: Kumpf Boulevard, the deck, Washington Street or the I-74 ramp. Add your direction and lane.
- Where the car should go: a shop on your side of the river, or across it.
- What happened: no start, flat, out of gas, crash or warning lights.
- The car: make, model, and whether it rolls.
- Is anyone hurt? If yes, or if you're in a live lane, call 911 first.
Then stay in your car with your belt on and your hazards going. When your driver shows up with amber lights, Illinois's Scott's Law tells passing drivers to slow down and move over when they can.
How does Sentinel price a Peoria job?
Sentinel Towing is a roadside network. We don't own trucks. A vetted local partner tow company does the work. You give us the details above, and we text you a price before anyone is sent. That price is the most you pay for the job. If the job changes, we text a new price first, and you choose. We keep checking on you by text until your driver arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise. For more on the river crossings and winter driving here, see the Peoria towing page.
Sentinel is not an emergency service. If anyone is hurt or you're stuck in a lane on the span, call 911 first.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Bob Michel Bridge Tow Cost Questions
Why does a breakdown on the bridge cost more than one downtown?
The setup is harder. The deck has a thin shoulder, so your car is likely partly in a lane. Your driver has to work in traffic. A car in a lot or on a side street is a simpler job.
Is the Bob Michel Bridge part of I-74?
No. It carries Illinois 40, which is Kumpf Boulevard on the Peoria end and Washington Street on the East Peoria end. On the East Peoria side, it leads to a ramp onto I-74. I-74 itself crosses the river on the Murray Baker Bridge.
Police towed my car off the bridge. How do I find it?
If Peoria police had it towed, call the Peoria Police Information Office at 309-494-8301. Ask about fees and where the car is. Storage starts 24 hours after it reaches the lot, so move fast. Sentinel doesn't do impounds.
Should I tow my car back to Peoria or keep it in East Peoria?
It depends on your shop. Crossing the river adds distance, and distance drives price. If a good shop is on the side where you stopped, the trip can be much shorter.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: City of Peoria impound FAQ, Illinois Governor on the Bob Michel Bridge, IDOT Bob Michel Bridge plan, IDOT deck sealing, IDOT bridge inspection, IDOT McClugage Bridge change, 625 ILCS 5/4-203, 625 ILCS 5/11-1303, 625 ILCS 5/11-1301, Scott's Law, 625 ILCS 5/11-907, Getting Around Illinois.
