Centennial Trail Entrance/Exit Closed at Willow Springs bridge

Heads up, the much needed bridge repair at eastern end of Centennial Trail is being done. However, there is no signage indicating you can't get through (traveling eastbound) until you get right up to it, unless I missed it.  It's 3.5 mi. to go back and find another way!  I was able to barely get around fencing Sunday to avoid adding another 7+ mi. to my century ride, but this is not recommended, particularly if they are working on bridge.  Anyone have a good workaround to avoid this until late Fall? (Edit: I guess the I&M trail on other side of canal is best option, and I think that trail is paved there.)  They do have closure listed here: http://fpdcc.com/preserves-and-trails/construction-closures-work

Forgot to snap pic on trail at south end...  North end pic (Willow Springs Road on left is open):

Guess you can take the I&M Canal trail instead...

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Permalink Reply by Peter DG on July 19, 2019 at 2:48pm

How would you bike to Lemont Rd from the I&M?

Permalink Reply by DerferMark on April 7, 2019 at 4:15am

So much for IDOT being finished by Oct. 2018!  Slow progress but you can walk it if you don't mind lifting bike over guardrail and around a fence on south end of soon-to-be-new bridge. Pic from yesterday:

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on July 17, 2019 at 4:46pm

The new bridge has been delivered but not installed yet. More info soon.

Permalink Reply by DerferMark on July 18, 2019 at 1:34am

Finally!!  Now how many more months until install?

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on July 19, 2019 at 12:04pm

The bridge is now in place, but not ridable. One could walk a bike across but they will probably fence off access. The surface looks like corrugated sheet metal which is probably the form for a concrete slab surface. The construction crew thought it will be a month or so before it is officially open, which would be some time in late August 2019. The following photos were taken from the Willow Springs Road bridge overlooking the new bridge and the NE end of the Centennial Trail. The bridge is 320 feet long and 16 feet wide - 14 feet between the railings. The construction drawings are at:

drawings

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on July 19, 2019 at 12:33pm

Trying to add photos!

How do you do that?

Permalink Reply by DerferMark on July 19, 2019 at 2:52pm

I just click the little "image" icon above where I'm typing right now and select pic on computer.

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on July 19, 2019 at 3:16pm

photos

Permalink Reply by DerferMark on August 8, 2019 at 6:19am

Sat. 8/3 they had the rebar grid about half done. Hopefully concrete pour will be soon.  Maybe the "bridge out until 10/18" sign will only be off by 1 year!?

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on August 9, 2019 at 11:31am

The concrete bridge deck has been poured and is covered with burlap to cure. Looks to me like it could all be open in 2 weeks if they tried. I asked the construction supervisor and he said it'll be much longer than that. They still have to deal with the approaches. So maybe October 1 (this year :-) is a best guess as to when it will be open.

Permalink Reply by Peter DG on September 10, 2019 at 12:57pm

Tue 9/10/2019 - It looks to me like it's all finished.

But it's still fenced off.

The fence is not locked and would be easy to move if one really needed to get through. But there were people working on the far (north) side digging something in the river bed.

Permalink Reply by ketoguychicago on September 11, 2019 at 12:58am

Hopefully reopened in time for what are usually some beautiful fall ride opportunities. 

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