Should Hinsdale Do Away With Bridge?

HINSDALE, IL – A top Hinsdale official said this week that the village should consider doing away with a deteriorating bridge.

Village President Tom Cauley was referring to the Fox Lane bridge over Salt Creek in the northeastern part of the village.

The winding street, also known as Road D, links drivers from York Road to Salt Creek Lane, where an office park is. Graue Mill is nearby.

The topic came up Tuesday when trustees were asked to vote on approving an engineering contract to study the bridge.

Cauley said the only time he hears about Fox Lane is when the village receives complaints about cut-through traffic.

"I've never heard about anybody actually using it," he said.

The village estimates the cost to replace the bridge at $2.5 million.

"If this is going to be a really expensive undertaking to replace that bridge, I think we should have some discussion with the community about whether it's worth it," Cauley said.

A staffer then pointed out the federal government was poised to pick up 80 percent of the cost.

But Cauley said that's not a reason to replace a bridge hardly anyone uses.

"This idea that if we get the feds to pay for it, somehow we've pulled a fast one. I just don't agree with that," he said.

At the same time, Cauley said residents may have different feelings.

"We may get a room full of people who say they use it all the time," Cauley said. "I think we should find out."

Trustee Luke Stifflear suggested the bridge could be limited to pedestrians. Cauley agreed.