Politics & Government

River Road Bridge Could Open in October

City leaders met to discuss the construction project last week.

Last May, the River Road bridge was spotted in the west abutment.

Now, a year later, the bridge that goes over Blackberry Creek will undergo construction to make it once more available to motorists later in the year.

“A preconstruction meeting was held this week.  I am pleased with the project's progress and the tentative construction schedule,” said Gary Golinski.

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City Administrator Bart Olson said the project will begin at the end of May with utility work, erosion control and other minor measures.

“The demolition of the bridge will take place in mid-June,” Olson said, with the actual reconstruction beginning at the end of July.

Find out what's happening in Yorkvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And as for , Olson said it is “being removed completely.” The dam is a separate project, but will be going on concurrently with the bridge.

“The major components should be complete by early October with the bridge open for traffic by the middle of October,” said Golinski.  “The tentative schedule is about two months ahead of what I considered to be a best case scenario.”

Olson said the total projected cost of the project is $1.8 million. “The state is covering 80% and we, the city of Yorkville, are covering the other 20% of the cost,” he said.

Golinski said the project was "a shining example" of government agencies working together.

“I'll be very happy when this important artery is re-opened for our residents and everyone in Kendall County,” said Golinksi. “It would have never happened so fast without the support of Representative Kay Hatcher, IDOT, IDNR, the Kendall County Board and the professional staffs of both the city and county."

Editor's note: Local blogger, Ken Gortowski of Waterdog Journal, snapped some photographs of the Blackberry Creek dam removal you can see here.


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