Politics & Government
City: River Road Bridge Closed
State officials confirm changes in bridge's western abutment indicate instability, span over Blackberry Creek closed indefinitely.
The River Road bridge over Blackberry Creek was closed indefinitely Wednesday after state officials reviewed inspection photographs showing a gap in the western abutment had worsened within the past seven months.
The bridge sits about two blocks west of Route 47, so City Engineer Joe Wywrot suggested motorists take Route 47 north to Route 34 and Route 34 west to Eldamain Road as a detour.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Wywrot did not know the cost or timeline involved with fixing the gap.
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“We’re going to be investigating that,” Wywrot said, adding that the city is responsible for paying for the repairs. “I honestly don’t know what it’s going to take to fix it.”
The western abutment is made of stone block and is at least 100 years old, Wywrot said. The gap existed before the city became responsible for the bridge but Tuesday’s inspection was the first to reveal any changes, Wywrot said.
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City staff sent photographs from Tuesday's and previous inspections to officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation, who confirmed the bridge should be closed for safety reasons, Wywrot said.
