Two Kishwaukee River bridges in McHenry County to be replaced

McHenry County's least-safe bridge will soon be much safer. State Rep. Jack Franks has announced that the bid-letting process will begin in November to replace the two Route 176 bridges that span the main and southern branches of the Kishwaukee River in Marengo.

Recent evaluations from the U.S. Department of Transportation gave the Route 176 bridge over the southern branch of the Kishwaukee River in Marengo a 2 percent overall efficiency rating -- the lowest efficiency rating of any bridge in McHenry County.

The Route 176 bridge over the southern branch of the Kishwaukee will be lengthened and the culvert will be replaced. These measures are intended to mitigate the flooding that has occurred on the bridge in the past.

IDOT notified Franks that the bidding process began Sept. 21 for beam and bearing fabrication for the Route 176 bridge that spans the southern branch of the Kishwaukee River, and bidding will begin in November to replace the bridge over the main branch of the Kishwaukee. The $565,000 project will begin this spring.

"The bridge collapse in Minneapolis this summer reminds us of how important the structural integrity of McHenry County's bridges really is," Franks said.

"We have been able to secure improvements for numerous bridges in McHenry County this year, such as the Route 173 bridge over the Piscasaw in Chemung, the Route 12 bridge over the north branch of the Nippersink in Richmond, and the Route 23 bridge over the Kishwaukee in Marengo.

"I am especially pleased that the Illinois Department of Transportation has made our least-safe bridge a priority now."

For more information, call Franks' office at (815) 334-0063.