Deerpath Road To Close For Bridge Replacement

LAKE FOREST, IL — A bridge replacement project requires the complete closure of a portion of Deerpath Road starting Friday, city officials announced.

Commonwealth Edison plans to demolish and remove a pedestrian bridge it owns that runs parallel to Route 41.

During construction, both ramps will remain open, but traffic exiting at Deerpath will be unable to turn east during the closure, which is scheduled to end March 27.

Once it reopens, construction of the new bridge will begin and extend through the late summer or early fall.

City officials said the replacement bridge will be better able to support the weight of ComEd equipment and maintenance vehicles, and that the utility company will cover the full cost of the project.

Pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the Skokie Valley Bike Path will be rerouted on Laurel Avenue to the north or Westleigh Road to the south.

The plan calls for construction work to take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, although hours may be adjusted in an effort to make sure the road can be reopened before the end of spring break on March 28.

City officials said there will be a complete closure while the existing structure is removed, followed by intermittent lane closures to prepare for installation and another complete closure to install the new bridge.