Hey, Hey! After 15 Months, Indian Trail Bridge Reopens in Aurora!
Under construction since June 2014, the Aurora’s NEW Indian Trail Bridge is now open!
In a brief ceremony this morning (Friday, Oct. 16, 2015), Mayor Tom Weisner was joined by federal, state, other local elected officials, staff and community partners to officially reopen the main thoroughfare that connects Aurora between IL Route 25 and IL Route 31.
More than 21,000 vehicles per day travel across the bridge and safety was the catalyst for the construction project.
“The sad fact is that one out of nine bridges in our country is categorized as structurally deficient by the American Society of Civil Engineers,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner. “That’s how horrible bridge disasters have happened, but we don’t intend to let that be the case in Aurora.”
Built in 1963, the Indian Trail Bridge is the longest Fox River crossing in Aurora, at a combined length of 826 feet between the east and west bridges.
The full scope of the project included the complete removal and replacement of the concrete deck of both the east and west bridges and the widening of four lanes that span the bridge.
Now complete, the Indian Trail Bridge is not only safer, but also more environmentally friendly, with new curbs and gutters, LED lighting, improved drainage and landscaping, wider sidewalks to encourage more pedestrian use.
Despite weather-related delays, the project was completed on time, with partial openings to traffic during the winter months to accommodate travelers as much as possible.
The $10 million project was completed with $8.7 million in federal funding and the City of Aurora contributing $2.18 million in Local Motor Fuel Tax funding.
In an effort to ensure the safety of everyone traveling in Aurora, in 2006, the City of Aurora began an ambitious initiative to replace its aging bridge infrastructure. In all, the City has rebuilt one bridge per year, on average, over the past ten years.
Check out a photo gallery that shows the construction progress from start to finish, and learn more about ongoing construction projects in Aurora at www.aurora-il.org/
Indian Trail Bridge Project
| Overview: | Complete reconstruction of the Indian Trail Bridges, including replacing the concrete deck and widening the both bridges crossing the Fox River, plus new curbs and gutters, sidewalks, railings, street lighting, and improved drainage, pavement markings and landscaping. |
| Start: | Summer 2014 |
| End: | The East Bridge was completed in 2014. The West Bridge will be constructed throughout Summer 2015. |
| Agency: | Contracted through Illinois Department of Transportation |
| Cost: | $10 million, with $8.7 million in Federal funding, and the City of Aurora contributing $2.18 million in Local Motor Fuel Tax funding |
| Traffic: | Complete closure of the West Bridge began March 2015 and will continue until Fall. Motorists should detour to Sullivan Road or Illinois Avenue. |
SOURCE: city of Aurora press release
About the City of Aurora
Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 200,456. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights. Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.
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