Two Local Joliet Bridges To Be Replaced

Joliet will begin the plan to replace the local bridges on Essington Road over Rock Run Creek and Garnsey Avenue located over Spring Creek.

The Essington Road project includes plans for a hiking-and-biking trail as well as a short, concrete wall to separate cars from walkers and bikers.The Garnsey Avenue project will include plans to design a bridge that will have some resemblance to the existing arch bridge, which was built in 1911 according to the Joliet Herald News.

The Essington bridge was built in 1977, around the same time as the Louis Joliet Mall was under construction. Public Works Director, James Trizna had a few words to say about the Essingtion bridge. “We’ve had way more traffic than originally anticipated for that structure. It’s deteriorating.” The bridge is along a section of the Rock Run Greenway Trail that connects by the Rock Run Preserve with the Theodore Marsh Preserve in Crest Hill.

The bridge project is expected to cost 3 million dollars according to the Joliet Herald News. Funding for both bridges will be supported by federal grants, covering 80 percent of the cost. The Garnsey Avenue bridge is estimated to cost 2.1 million dollars.

The Garnsey bridge is located over the Spring Creek on the East Side of Joliet, between Ohio and Columbia street. was built in 1911 according to bridgehunter.com, a database of the historic or notable bridges and tunnels of the United States. The last inspection reported from February 2017 stated that the overall condition is poor. The bridge needs to be replaced because of its deterioration over time. Joliet will replace the bridge that resembles the arch appearance without actually being an arch bridge.

James Trizna stated to the Joliet Herald News that Construction on both projects is expected in summer or fall of 2020.

Photo source: bridgehunter.com