Final Pieces Of Touhy Overpass To Be Installed Sunday Night

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — The final pieces of a biking and pedestrian bridge over Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood is scheduled for this weekend, and construction is expected to be fully complete within the month, nearly a year after construction began, according to the village. The installation of the final three spans of the bridge will require the full closure of Touhy Avenue, which is scheduled to take place in 15 minute increments on the night of Sunday into Monday morning.

The bridge is intended to function as a "gateway feature" for Lincolnwood and will feature a sign across its center span reading, "Village of Lincolnwood." Following the placement of the center span, concrete for the bridge deck and stairs will be poured and lighting and landscaping will be finalized.

Federal funding is covering 80 percent of the estimated $3.7 million project through a congestion mitigation and air quality grant administered by the Federal Highway Association, according to the village.

The contract was awarded to Streamwood-based Areatha Construction and was originally anticipated to be complete by mid-June. However, the Illinois Department of Transportation had still not approved plans a month after the target date, village officials said in project updates.

The bridge is part of the Valley Line Trail, which connects the Skokie Valley Trail, which runs along rail lines and along Route 41 through northern Cook and Lake counties to the north, to the Sauganash Trail running south to Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago.

Lincolnwood Mayor Barry Bass told Pioneer Press the bridge would be in place by the end of September, with a grand opening ceremony planned for Oct. 11.

“It’s going to be beautiful. It’s basically three pieces and then the span will be filled with concrete and lighting and various accessories,” Bass said. “By the end of the month it’s going to be looking great.”