Downtown Naperville bridge to be replaced

When improvements last were made to the Washington Street bridge in downtown Naperville, the work was designed to extend the life of the structure by 10 to 15 years.

That was in 2004.

Now the city has determined the bridge, which spans the West Branch of the DuPage River between Chicago and Aurora avenues, needs to be replaced.

The city council on Tuesday could approve a contract for preliminary engineering of the bridge replacement by accepting a $327,970 proposal from Alfred Benesch & Company.

The city only would have to pay $62,594, or 20 percent, of that total because the project is being funded through the federal surface transportation program for bridge replacement, according to a memo from Bill Novack, director of transportation, engineering and development.

The federal government also will reimburse the city for 80 percent of future bridge replacement costs including design, construction engineering and construction.

The bridge was constructed in 1928 and its superstructure was replaced in 1977, Novack said in the memo. Work in 2004 overlaid the deck to extend its life, but a feasibility study conducted in 2014 determined the best course now is to replace the bridge.