Bike and Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Project

The Village's Comprehensive Plan envisions a number of key amenities that will help bring our community together. One item is a plan for a better-connected trail system and a bridge to cross Route 59 safely. The Village held a number of public meetings to get input from the community regarding this proposed bridge and trail. During these meetings, residents asked questions and offered suggestions and input on the proposed bike and pedestrian plan and design options for the proposed bridge over Route 59. View a summary of the forum results.

The Village also held an open house to review details of the project and gather feedback from residents on proposed treatments and amenities to be offered. Residents reviewed the proposals, discussed the project, and offered feedback and suggestions. Review the feedback provided.

The proposed improvements are part of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and include a new trail connection at Irving Park Road and Madison Drive. This trail would connect to a pedestrian and bicycle path and bridge that would take travelers across Route 59 to the existing path system on the west side of Route 59. The Village has secured grant funding to make this vision a reality. The plans call for a boardwalk-style path to minimize the impact on existing wetlands, moving toward a steel truss bridge that would safely carry bikers and walkers over, and permit traffic along, Route 59.

The bridge project is part of our overall goal of bringing our community together. Integral to this endeavor has been an assessment of existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities. We worked with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Village of Bartlett, to develop an inventory, assessment, and prioritization of existing, planned, and future pathway connections.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has accepted the bid to construct the bridge and work began in April 2024. The initial work includes site preparation, utility work and installing foundations for the boardwalk. The prefabricated steel bridge installation is expected to start in April 2025, and the entire project complete by July 2025. 

We are pleased to note that the majority of the funds needed to construct this project (80%) are grant funds. The balance has been earmarked and saved to ensure no direct impact on our taxpayers. The Village Board is very excited to start this important work - connecting our community!

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