Sheffer Road bridge opens two weeks ahead of schedule
AURORA, Ill. - The Sheffer Road Bridge opened two weeks ahead of schedule last weekend, making travel easier for residents and marking a milestone in the City of Aurora.
Sheffer Road is the tenth bridge reconstructed in the City of Aurora in 10 years, part of an ongoing initiative to update aging infrastructure throughout the city.
"One of my earliest priorities as mayor was to increase the safety and long-term capacity of our road and bridge infrastructure," Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said, "and this weekend, we completed our tenth bridge in 10 years. On average, only 20 percent of the cost of these improvements was paid for using local funds - the remainder was funded through federal programs, which are here today, but could be gone tomorrow."
First Ward Alderman Tina Bohman was joined by residents, construction crew and city officials to cut the ribbon and commemorate the completion of the bridge project and the reopening of Sheffer Road.
"The Sheffer Road Bridge is open. Come on by and see the good work that the City of Aurora is doing," said Alderman Bohman as she was the first to drive across the new bridge immediately prior to the barricades being removed for public use this weekend.
The original Sheffer Road Bridge, spanning Indian Creek just east of Farnsworth Avenue, was built in 1933. Plans to replace the aging 26-foot wide bridge began in 2012. Construction began in April 2016 and included the complete removal of the old bridge, which was replaced with a wider 40-foot precast deck beam bridge with wider shoulders, plus new water main and sewer.
"Bridges may not seem like the most exciting part of governing a community, but when it comes to building a city that works for both residents and business, our infrastructure is what paves the way for growth and prosperity," said Weisner.
The Sheffer Road Bridge Project was completed ahead of schedule with 80 percent of the cost paid for by federal highway funds and 20 percent paid for with local motor fuel taxes.