Massive repairs are on the horizon for two popular bridges in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, officials said.
The respective governing boards are preparing to replace Lake Forest’s Lake-Woodbine Bridge as well as Lake Bluff’s Green Bay Road and Bridge in projects starting next year.
In Lake Forest, city officials have for several years aimed for the replacement of the Lake-Woodbine Bridge, which was built in 1912 and rehabilitated in 1977.
“It’s the most critical bridge project in the city,” City Manager Jason Wicha said at the June 16 City Council meeting.
While a design for a new bridge was previously selected, the project was stalled last year when construction bids came in higher than expected, according to Superintendent of Engineering Byron Kutz. However, he told the City Council on June 16 that the city recently learned of the approval of a second State of Illinois grant that offset some of the projected costs.
The city now has a total of $3.68 million secured for a project, anticipated to cost approximately $5 million. The city will finance the balance.
Yet Kutz cautioned that the price could change due to inflation, market volatility, and the possibility of tariffs.
“There is still some uncertainty in the market,” he said.
Kutz described two ways to reconstruct the bridge, and the staff recommended a “pre-cast” option where much of the concrete work would be done off-site as opposed to a “cast-in-place” possibility where components of the concrete work would be done at the bridge.
He said the “pre-cast” cost would be about $105,000 more than the “cast-in-place”, but it would allow completion of the project next year as opposed to waiting until 2027 or 2028.
City Council members did not take a formal vote, but endorsed the pre-cast idea.
“This could delay it even farther, and we have a critical asset that needs to be replaced,” said Alderman Richard Walther, 4th.
“Getting this thing done should be the priority,” added Alderwoman Nancy Novit, 1st. “More than $105,000.”
The City Council is now expected to review the costs later this year as part of the overall capital improvement project, city spokeswoman Dana Olson said.
“Detour routes will be communicated prior to the beginning of construction,” Olson said.
Meanwhile, up in Lake Bluff, on June 9, trustees unanimously approved an agreement with other government agencies that will salvage some of the existing Green Bay Road bridge structure for historical reasons and create a roadside exhibit.
The bridge was built in 1934 and last reconstructed in 1988, according to Village Engineer Jeff Hansen.
This was one small part of an overall project that will lead to severe restrictions on the heavily-traveled Green Bay Road next year, Hansen said.
In 2027, the road is anticipated to be closed in the second phase of the road and bridge replacement.
The approximate $7.5 million cost will be divided between the village and the state.
With the projected roadwork, some areas of Lake Bluff will be difficult for the village’s police officers to reach, with Lake Forest police expected to provide some assistance.
“LFPD Officers will respond, stabilize, and assist the caller(s) until one or more Lake Bluff police officers arrive on scene,” Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke explained in an e-mail.
Irvin said the village has scheduled a community meeting at the Public Safety building for Wednesday, July 30, where local officials will be available to answer questions about the upcoming project.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
