Elmhurst Route 83 Pedestrian Bridge In Works

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is preparing to take the next steps for a long-awaited pedestrian bridge over Route 83 to link north Elmhurst to parkland on the other side of the highway.

According to a city memo this week, the north side needs a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Route 83.

The south half of town has such a connection with the Illinois Prairie Path bridge.

The memo said a new bridge in north Elmhurst would connect Berens Park to the Salt Creek Trail and Cricket Creek Forest Preserve.

The city plans to go out to bid for the project in late 2025, with construction starting the following year.

Recently, 10 engineering firms submitted proposals to design the bridge.

TranSystems, the engineer for the years-long Interstate 294 project, was the city's top-ranked choice. Its services will cost $300,000, the city said.

The total project is expected to cost Elmhurst $2.6 million, of which the city has $1.9 million in outside money.

On Monday, a City Council committee is set to make a recommendation on TranSystems as the engineer.

The full council discussed the bridge at a meeting in October 2020.

The city has received support from several organizations for the project, including the Elmhurst Park District, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, DuPage County, the Elmhurst Bicycle Club and local Boy Scouts.