$10 million walkway in the works for Rosemont

A $10 million climate-controlled walkway will be installed over Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont, connecting the village's entertainment district with the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall.

The project has been discussed for at least two years, but it's expected to come to fruition this year. Once complete, it would allow people to walk indoors from the mall to the MB Financial Park, and then through existing skywalks to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. A $15 million state grant is helping pay for the $10 million project. The other $5 million from the grant will fund improvements to the 8,500-space Williams Street parking garage, which is located east of the entertainment district. The village already has received $3.75 million from the state. If the rest of the money is not secured, Mayor Brad Stephens said the village would be willing to front the remaining $6.25 million cost of the skybridge and delay improvements to the Williams Street garage.

"This is a necessary project for the village," Stephens said.

Stephens hopes one day to be able to connect a skybridge to the Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel, located east of the mall.

The village board Wednesday approved an easement agreement that allows the village access to the mall's garage.

Drawings for the project are expected to be complete in a week. Officials hope to begin construction this summer.