Bridge Replacement Project Will Bring Months Of Detours For Lake Forest

LAKE FOREST, IL — Lake Forest residents will need to take a detour due to construction on Lake Road while the city replaces a bridge nearing the end of its service life.

Construction for the Lake and Woodbine Bridge Replacement Project begins this week and is expected to last through September of this year, weather permitting. During this time, crews will be fully replacing the structure with a new bridge that meets modern safety standards.

Lake Road from Woodland Road to Deerpath Road will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians at the bridge. Local access to residents who live along the street will remain open on either side of the bridge.

Planning for the bridge's replacement has been underway for more than a decade, with planning beginning in 2012. The city conducted bridge studies, environmental and roadway evaluations and data collection.

Since 2023, engineers worked on developing detailed plans and specifications for the new bridge and they have been reviewed by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Construction was initially meant to take place in 2025, but was delayed due to budget constraints, according to the city. The total budget for the project is $4.7 million, with grants covering $3.7 million.