Demolition Of Historic Highland Park Bridge Scheduled To Begin

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Demolition of the 87-year-old Central Avenue bridge is set to begin Monday.

Currently classified as "structurally deficient" and "functionally obsolete," the 111-foot-long one-lane bridge crosses a ravine and provides access to Central Park. As of a 2014 inspection, it had a "sufficiency rating" of 33 out of 100.

Any score under 50 justifies removal and replacement, the inspection said. It is also considered obsolete because it has only a single traffic lane.

City officials said Highland Park has received an IDOT grant to replace the bridge as part of an approximately $4.08 million project. The grant is covering 80 percent of the cost of the project, while the city is due to pay $816,000.

The bridge was listed on the Illinois Department of Transportation's historic bridge list as a primary example of its type — a concrete-filled arch deck with filled spandrel. There are 18 other such bridges in the state, according to a report by consultants for the department.

The bridge also sits within the Linden Park Place-Belle Avenue Historic District, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, but does not contribute to it because it was built after the district's period of significance ended in 1925.

Prior to the demolition, state historic preservation officials offered the bridge up for sale to anyone who wanted to move it, but there were no takers.

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Several members of the public spoke in opposition to the demolition of the bridge at the Feb. 14 City Council meeting. Residents expressed concerns about increased traffic from a new bridge, the loss of a historic structure, harm to surrounding vegetation and the level of public input in the project.

City Manager Ghida Neukirch said the project dates back to 2015. Since then, she said, there have been more than 20 meetings about the project.

"Most recently, in June 2021, we hosted an open house with neighbors in that immediate area," Neukirch said.

"In response to that meeting, where we did hear concerns from neighbors about the two-lane bridge and their interest in maintaining a one-lane bridge, as well as some other factors," she said. "We did send communications to the Illinois Department of Transportation, and we asked them to, rather than a two-lane bridge, consider reconstruction, and maintain the bridge as a one-lane bridge."

The department formally denied that request in July 2021, Neukirch said.

Mayor Nancy Rotering said it was important to note that the bridge has been identified as in need of repair for years.

"I got to say, I don't see seven years as being an expedient process. And we all recognize the absolute necessity of safety, whether you are walking, biking, driving, if you're getting to those houses, if you're going to that park, which is open to the public, I certainly would hope that we would be taking the necessary steps to ensure that the bridge is safe," Rotering said at last month's meeting.

"I appreciate the beauty of this bridge and the history of this neighborhood, but I do have to say that infrastructure investment is critical to keeping people safe," Rotering said.

Councilmember Tony Blumberg said that the state has agreed to incorporate the historic physical elements of the bridge into the new design, following recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission.

"And although it is more modern than the current bridge, in terms of the historic nature of the neighborhood, it will include those elements. It will also include the safety features necessary for a new bridge," Blumberg said.

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"Nobody likes to see anything change. The bridge that is there is not the original bridge. ... At least four different bridges have been there," Blumberg added.

"The presence of access to the lake and to Central Park is a part of this council's much earlier commitment to make the lake and the bluff accessible to as many residents as possible. That's become particularly important during the pandemic, when people have flocked to the lake," he said. "So having a two-lane bridge for cars is safer and provides that access."

During construction, Central Avenue will be closed to through-traffic between Dale and Lake avenues, with residents of the street still able to access their driveways. City staff asked motorist to follow posted detours and drive with caution through the area.

According to city staff, tree removal and the relocation of utility lines has been completed. Bridge and pavement removal is expected to be complete by March 23, with excavations to follow and the removal of the retaining wall scheduled for March 29.

The existing water main is due to be replaced the week of April 4, and pile driving of the new bridge's support elements is planned for the week of May 9.

The work is being completed by Dunnet Bay Construction Corporation, and the project is expected to be completed in late fall, according to staff.