Elmhurst Pedestrian Bridge A Go, Despite Objections

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst aldermen on Monday approved hiring an engineer to design a pedestrian bridge over Route 83 on the north side.

But an alderman and two residents expressed opposition.

Officials have said they want a bridge because the city lacks such a crossing on the busy Route 83 north of St. Charles Road. South Elmhurst enjoys the Illinois Prairie Path bridge.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Alderwoman Emily Bastedo said outside grants would pay for two-thirds of the work.

"It comes at the request of residents and aldermen to create a safer path over 83," she said. "Right now, some of the options on the north side include Grand and Lake. This is a much safer option."

Alderman Michael Bram said he has long had concerns about spending city money on the project.

"I think the project overall is a good project. It's a benefit," he said. "The problem is, to me, this is a nice-to-have. It's not a need-to-have."

Bram said the city has plenty of other needs. And the city's projected contribution to the project, he said, has nearly doubled to $1.4 million over the last few years.

The plan includes building an 8-foot-wide path on the south side of Fay Avenue, from West Avenue to the proposed 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.

At the meeting, two residents on the south side of Fay Avenue objected to the proposed path. They said it would be dangerous when they pull out of their driveways, with bicyclists going by.

"It's already difficult to see pedestrians that come across our property," resident Antonio DeBlasio said. "And now you're proposing to build an 8-foot-wide path that will not only have pedestrians but bicyclists at all types of speeds zipping past our homes and driveways. It just poses an extreme amount of danger."

Elmhurst resident Antonio DeBlasio was one of two residents on his street to object to an 8-foot-wide path in front of their houses for a pedestrian bridge over Route 83. (David Giuliani/Patch)

He said he didn't think those in the council chambers would want a yellow-striped "runway" going past their houses, estimating his home was worth up to $1.2 million.

One of his neighbors, Frank Catanzaro, agreed, adding that the growing number of electric bicycles worsens the problem.

"I don't want to be the one who backs out of my driveway and hits someone," he said.

The council voted 13-1 for Chicago-based Civiltech as the engineer, with Bram as the lone dissenter. The firm could get up to $382,000.

Construction is estimated to cost $3.2 million.