Western Springs, Hinsdale At Odds Over Bridge

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale and Western Springs are not seeing eye to eye on the style of pedestrian bridge they want linking their towns over Interstate 294.

Western Springs wants a chain-link fence on the bridge, which Hinsdale officials said this week they found unattractive. Hinsdale's village president suggested each village go with its own style on its half of the bridge.

In September, Western Springs trustees chose a chain-link fence on the bridge with a weathered steel finish requiring no paint. Hinsdale, however, prefers a painted black finish and picket-style fencing.

Western Springs trustees said they preferred the chain-link fence because it was much less expensive for maintenance.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Hinsdale Village Board, trustees said they opposed a chain-link fence.

"That doesn't sound too attractive looking," Village President Tom Cauley said.

"Not at all," Trustee Neale Byrnes replied.

Added Trustee Luke Stifflear added, "I'm a big no on the chain-link fence."

Trustees were under the impression that the main reason Western Springs wanted a chain-link fence was to prevent people from throwing things onto the tollway.

But Assistant Village Manager Brad Bloom said the village's decision was completely based on finances. He was representing the Western Springs position accurately. While Western Springs trustees mentioned the possibility of people throwing things from the bridge, they emphasized the greater costs of maintenance with Hinsdale's preference.

During a September discussion, when Western Springs trustees were informed of Hinsdale's more expensive preference, several of them chuckled, with one saying, "I should have figured." Hinsdale is the wealthiest town in the area.

At one point in Hinsdale's meeting this week, the village president said, "What if we put what we want on our half, and they can put chain-link on their half?"

There was a pause, then some trustees laughed.

"I'm not sure about that one, Cauley," Byrnes said.

Bloom, the assistant village manager, said the Western Springs board would reconsider its decision.

In an interview Friday, Western Springs Village President Alice Gallagher said the village was still in discussions with the Illinois Tollway on the bridge. She said it was premature to discuss anything with Hinsdale.

"There is a perception we are rival towns," Gallagher said. "We can get along and find some kind of solution that will be acceptable to both sides."

She praised the Western Springs trustees for their "fiscally responsible" approach.

"We also want something that people will like to look at as they cross the tollway," she said.

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

Western Springs Differs With Hinsdale On Bridge