“First Avenue Bridge” (2003)
Muralist: Dan Sawatzky
Location: Avenue C at Avenue B (behind Sauk Valley Bank)
Stand here and imagine this crossing before it was steel and concrete—when getting across the Rock River wasn’t guaranteed.
The First Avenue Bridge represents more than a structure. It marks a turning point in how Sterling connected with Rock Falls. Before permanent bridges, river crossings were limited, unreliable, and often dictated by weather and water levels. Travel, trade, and communication all depended on what the river allowed.
When a stable bridge was established , it changed everything.
Suddenly, movement between neighborhoods became consistent. Businesses could expand their reach. Residents could travel more freely. What had once been a dividing line became a point of connection.
This mural captures that transformation—from obstacle to opportunity—and reminds us that infrastructure doesn’t just support a city, it shapes how people experience it.
Even today, as traffic flows steadily across the river, the bridge continues to do what it has always done best: bring community together.
