Black Road Pedestrian Bridge Over DuPage River Finally Done

SHOREWOOD, IL — Will County's Forest Preserve District is hosting a public ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access in Shorewood to mark the opening of the new DuPage River pedestrian bridge along Black Road.

Forest Preserve officials said the trail addition links the DuPage River Trail in Hammel Woods with the Rock Run Greenway Trail in Rock Run Preserve. The $3 million project included pedestrian bridges over the DuPage River and Interstate 55.

"We've long focused on providing access to forest preserves and linking people, places and nature," said Ralph Schultz, the Forest Preserve's executive director. "With the connection of these two regional trails, folks in Shorewood, Joliet, Crest Hill, Rockdale and towns farther away are linked to each other and to additional regional and local trails, schools, colleges, libraries and places to shop, eat and explore."

The trail connection aims to provide safer passage for walkers, runners and bicyclists along Black Road between Joliet and Shorewood. The project provides a critical link to more than 50 miles of regional trails including the I&M Canal Trail, Joliet Junction Trail and the Old Plank Road Trail.

Grants from the federally funded Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program provided 80 percent of the project's cost, with the Forest Preserve contributing 20 percent as a local share.

People attending the Nov. 12 ribbon-cutting are asked to park in the DuPage River Access parking lot, east of Route 59 on the south side of Black Road. People will walk to the DuPage River pedestrian bridge for the ceremony.