Centennial Trail Closed Willow Springs to IL 83 (through Fall 2015)

After biking 13 miles from Oak Park, I discovered that this morning. No big loss, as the I & M trail parallels it, and rejoins it at IL 83, if you know that it is there. The three year closure is still horrifying. Does anyone know anybody at the Cook County Forest Preserve District? This seems like a great time for some bike detour signs and maps.

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Permalink Reply by Phil Fox on March 20, 2013 at 2:02am
I wonder what the rationale is. The Centenial was built more recently than the I&M, which is really in need of a re-surfacing.

Does the Centenial re-open at route 83?
Permalink Reply by sgrady11 on March 20, 2013 at 2:40am

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is doing work there.

Phil Fox said:

I wonder what the rationale is. The Centenial was built more recently than the I&M, which is really in need of a re-surfacing.

Does the Centenial re-open at route 83?
Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 20, 2013 at 2:49am
Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on March 20, 2013 at 3:42am
The Centennial Trail does reopen at Route 83. I physically confirmed this Sunday morning. Steve Buchtel has been doing a good job of getting the word out, and pressuring MWRD. He has contact info for them in the post linked above, and I did receive a personal email back from the public affairs department.
Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on March 20, 2013 at 4:03am

MWRD closed the trail because they needed a dump site? Sheesh.

Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on March 29, 2013 at 2:33am
Nope-- you have to take the bridge over the Des Plaines River to Archer, and use the I & M trail. At the south end, you can use a protected crossing back to the west side, and continue Southwest on the Centennial Trail.
Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on March 30, 2013 at 4:58am
It is open this morning! Not sure if it is permanent-- Steve Buchtel is checking on that, but I had a beautiful ride this morning.
Permalink Reply by Peter DG on March 31, 2013 at 7:05am

Tim:  More details please.   Did it look like the gate was left unlocked by mistake?  Was the fence down?  At both ends?  Was there any evidence of "work" being done?   Thanks for your info.
.
This whole issue is disgusting.  If they are dumping fill form some Chicago MWRD reservoir, the trail will never be reopened.  They set the three year time period to let the stuff stabilize so people can be allowed back in.  It would be more years before it's compact enough to rebuild the trail.  Really they hope that in three years this part of the forest preserve will just be forgotten and just closed forever.  Don't the Forest Preserve bosses have to get elected?

Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on March 31, 2013 at 7:35am
It was open at both ends, and not by mistake. What barriers had been there previously had been dismantled. According to a response the MWRDGC left to a post I made on their Facebook page yesterday, they are investigating other alternatives to meet the needs of the construction project and sincerely regret any inconvenience. I thanked them for the communication, and assured them that plenty of people were using the trail yesterday.

So no promises (at this point), but it looks like a reprieve. Hopefully Steve will have more official information on Monday.
Permalink Reply by Peter DG on March 31, 2013 at 9:01am

Great news. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on April 30, 2013 at 6:03am

The reprieve is over.  Two weekends left, and then the revised (and hopefully improved) closure begins.  I received this in my email yesterday

 

For immediate release

April 29, 2013

 

MWRD to host public meeting to discuss Centennial Trail closure, detour

 

Who:    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)

 

What:   Public Informational Meeting to discuss Centennial Trail and McCook Reservoir

 

When:  6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2013

 

Where: Willow Springs Community Center, 8156 Archer Ave., Willow Springs

 

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will be hosting a public meeting to provide information about the next steps of the McCook Reservoir flood control project, discuss the temporary closure of Centennial Trail, and receive input about improvements to the trail. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at the Willow Springs Community Center, 8156 Archer Ave., Willow Springs.

 

During the trail’s closure, users will be detoured to a parallel Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) trail located approximately 350 feet to the south along the Illinois and Michigan Canal. MWRD staff will explain the reasons and duration for the closure, discuss the detour, and receive suggestions for improvements to the trail when it is rebuilt.

 

Centennial Trail is located on MWRD property southwest of the McCook Reservoir, a component of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, or Deep Tunnel. The first phase of McCook Reservoir is due for completion in 2017, and when fully functional in 2029, it will have a total capacity of 10 billion gallons to capture combined sewer overflows that currently discharge to area waterways and cause sewer back-ups. It will also provide $90 million per year in flood control benefits to 3.1 million people living in 37 communities.

           

The MWRD is working with the FPDCC and the contractor, Lane Construction Corporation, to ensure adequate signage is provided at both ends of the path. The trail is tentatively scheduled for closure on May 13, 2013. The MWRD will also consider written comments before making final restoration plans; please submit comments by email to public.affairs@mwrd.org or write to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Office of Public Affairs, 100 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611.

 

“Centennial Trail is a public amenity, and we certainly understand the concerns regarding the trail as a resource our residents enjoy,” said MWRD Executive Director David St. Pierre. “However, we must balance the need to keep the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan moving forward.” 

 

Additional information about the project can be found at www.mwrd.org.

 

Our water environment: Take it personally!

 

###

 

Established in 1889, the MWRD is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management in Cook County, Illinois.

--

Allison Fore
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer

 

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

100 East Erie Street

Chicago, Illinois 60611

 

312.751.6626 office

312.751.6633 front desk

312.751.6635 fax

allison.fore@mwrd.org

www.mwrd.org

 

Permalink Reply by Bob Jarosz on February 9, 2014 at 5:48am

They just spent lot of money, $millions, putting that fish fence up a couple years ago, plus at least 1 1/2 years being closed for that.  Now its closed again for more maint.  Why don't they just close it permanently and be done with it.   

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