The Mayor of Joliet Acknowledges the Dismay of the I-80 Des Plaines River Bridge
On Thursday February 14, Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk released a statement regarding the I-80 Des Plaines River bridge. According to wjol.com, following the Illinois Department of Transportation’s disclosure of the bridges most recent inspection, O’Dekirk instructed Joliet public safety officials to begin coordinating with the county, state and federal officials to establish a specific plan of action in the event of a failure of the bridge.
“Following the disclosure by the Illinois Department of Transportation that the latest inspection of the Interstate Highway 80 bridge spanning the DesPlaines River has serious structural weaknesses, I have instructed Joliet public safety officials to begin coordinating with the county, state and Federal Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to establish a specific plan of action in the event of a partial or complete failure of the bridge structure,” said the Mayor in a media release.
By the law, the City of Joliet is prohibited from interfering with interstate traffic; however, if the state or federal government does not give the city funding for repairing the structural deficiencies the bridge is showing, the city is prepared to take action. Mayor O’Dekirk stated that he will begin planning for the emergency scenario of a bridge collapse. According to the City of Joliet’s media release, the plan is as follows:
1) Order the diversion of any vehicles seeking access to Interstate 80 entrance ramps which would lead to vehicles traveling over the bridge
2) Post signs (4” by 8” or larger) on the Joliet streets near the entrance and exit ramps of I-80 which warn motorists of the potential danger involved in traveling over the I-80 bridge pending repairs
3) Notify all Joliet residents by mail, text, email and Public Service Announcements on cable television and local radio of the current potential dangers and designated alternative routes of transportation designed to limit traffic congestion on main thoroughfares.
For more information regarding the media release of statues of the bridge you can check the City of Joliet’s Facebook page here.
