Western Springs Differs With Hinsdale On Bridge

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — The Western Springs Village Board learned this week that Hinsdale is choosing the costlier options for a pedestrian bridge linking the two towns over Interstate 294.

In reaction, some trustees chuckled, with one saying, "I should have figured." Hinsdale is the wealthiest town in the area.

At Monday's Western Springs meeting, Illinois Tollway officials said the village could go with a weathered steel finish for the bridge, requiring no paint. Or the town could choose a painted black finish, which would cost up to $250,000 to repaint in 20 to 25 years. The addition of picket-style fencing would add $60,000 to that cost, according to the state.

Tollway officials told Western Springs trustees that Hinsdale wants the painted black finish and picket-style fencing.

But if the two towns cannot agree, the tollway would go with the cheaper options. That's because the tollway cannot impose costs that a town does not accept, officials said.

Trustee Nicole Chen began the discussion by saying she preferred the weathered steel because of the low maintenance costs. She wanted a chain-link fence, but preferred picket-style-fencing in the lead-up to the bridge, which starts in Spring Rock Park.

"I don't think I'm in the majority," she said.

It turns out she had a lot of company. Trustee Scott Lewis agreed with Chen, saying the color of the fence did not matter much.

"This is a bridge going over an eight- or 10-lane highway. How nice can it be?" he said.

Trustees James Tyrrell and James John both said they preferred black, but liked the lower costs of weathered steel. Trustee Al Fink, who admitted his wife doesn't trust his judgment on aesthetics, said he would go with the cheaper options. Trustee Heidi Rudolph agreed with the others.

Assistant Hinsdale Village Manager Brad Bloom, who provides tollway updates to his board, couldn't be reached for comment.

The tollway bridge between Hinsdale and Western Springs is being replaced as part of the I-294 construction project. Late last year, the villages requested the new bridge go along 47th Street, about a half mile south of the current site. It will be considerably wider than the existing structure, officials said.

Here are other stories about the pedestrian bridge between Hinsdale and Western Springs:

Pedestrian Bridge Debate Splits Western Springs, Hinsdale

No Pedestrian Bridge If Villages Split On Site: Official

Pedestrian Bridge Moving To 47th Street: Villages

Western Springs And Hinsdale Get Choices For Bridge