Скачать или смотреть McDowell Grove Bridge Construction Begins

Construction on the new McDowell Grove Bridge has begun.

Crews placed seven 66-ton beams to begin the process.

The new two-lane bridge will have a separate pedestrian and bike lane and will not require piers placed into the water below.

Officials from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County said this would be safer for the environment than the previous 60-year-old one-lane bridge.

The new bridge will also make the preserve safer for people using the forest preserve.

“The other one was limited to five tons,” said Chris Welch, civil engineer or the forest preserve. “So we couldn’t get in there for garbage disposal or any kind of maintenance and a fire truck or an ambulance will have trouble getting in. This one we’ll be able to carry everything we need in.”

Areas surrounding the bridge are closed during construction, but a detour is in place for those wishing to use the preserve trails.

The $2 million project is on track to be complete and open to the public by spring 2018.

Naperville News 17’s Beth Bria reports.