Another Step For Elmhurst Pedestrian Bridge

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is taking steps to build a pedestrian bridge over Route 83 in north Elmhurst.

At a committee meeting Monday, aldermen are expected to vote on whether to recommend spending $382,000 on engineering. That works out to 12 percent of the estimated $3.2 million cost.

For several years, the bridge project has been working through the environmental and design process, according to a city memo.

Aldermen have said they want a bridge in the area because the city has no such crossings on the busy Route 83 north of St. Charles Road. South Elmhurst enjoys the Illinois Prairie Path bridge.

The city held an open house about the project in June.

The plan is to build an 8- to 10-foot-wide path from West Avenue to the south side of Fay Avenue. That would connect to a 14-foot-wide bridge over Route 83.

The project would be within DuPage County's Cricket Creek Forest Preserve and on city-owned right-of-way.

Last year, the city said the bridge would cost an estimated $2.6 million, with $1.9 million coming from outside grants.