At 76, it's time for a facelift for Geneva bridge

The 76-year-old north bridge in Geneva's Island Park has seen better days.

Parts of the concrete deck and sidewalls have crumbled away. The surface of the deck has been patched in several places. There's a crack in one of the four piers holding it up.

While inspections have determined the bridge is still safe for bicyclists and pedestrians on the Fox River Trail to use, the Geneva Park District wants to replace it. And what the new bridge will look like will be determined in part by the public.

"We are very cognizant this is in the historical district," said Larry Gabriel, the district's parks and properties superintendent. It was built by Wilson Brothers, Geneva builders who studied with architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

At a meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 23, drawings of possible replacements will be shown. The meeting is at the Geneva Community Center, 710 Western Ave. Gabriel, park district superintendent Steve Pershinger, and an engineer will answer questions.

Contraction and expansion in freeze-thaw cycles has taken its toll on the deck and sidewalls.

The metal rebar reinforcing the deck is in good condition, Gabriel said.

In July, engineers bored holes in the four piers and its footings to examine the concrete.

Three of the four piers are in good condition, but one is cracked. The tests also settled the question of what the piers were resting on in the river. The good news: rock. So they wouldn't have to be replaced, according to Gabriel.

One option is to build a bridge that looks exactly like the one there now. Or they could build a wood-and-steel deck and sidewalls.

"A lot of it weighs heavily on residential input," Gabriel said.

Gabriel solicited the Geneva Historic Preservation Commission's opinion about the issue in May.

The bridge is about 8 feet wide now; a new bridge would be two feet wider.

Costs have not been determined yet.

A grant helped pay for the engineering services. The district is paying for the borings and inspections.