Naperville Riverwalk rehab work on track

The original stretch of Naperville's Riverwalk is well on its way to becoming as good as new again.

Work is moving along smoothly so far on a $1.44 million rehabilitation project to rejuvenate the park between Eagle and Main streets, according to Riverwalk Commission Chairman Rick Hitchcock.

The winter weather "sure hasn't helped the contractor an awful lot, but they seem to be doing OK despite the complexities," he said.

Workers already have finished building a coffer dam in the river and are doing demolition in order to start reconstructing the bulkhead wall from the 1930s that supports the lower walkway.

"We hope the Riverwalk is there for a good long time for people to enjoy so we're reinforcing or armoring it so it's there," Hitchcock said.

The plans also include enhancing Veteran's Plaza, widening the lower walkway and making it handicap-accessible and improving pedestrian areas north of the Dandelion Fountain and the stairway east of the Webster Street bridge.

The commission also will combine two narrow walkways into a Grand Promenade and widen the sidewalk along Jackson Avenue, replacing it with brick pavers.

"Visitors will notice more spacious walkways, new landscape, a few new features here and there to catch their attention," Hitchcock said. "But most importantly, all the landmarks and important pieces that are signature to the original design are still going to be there."

During construction, the Webster Street covered bridge and Riverwalk parking lot at the southwest corner of Jackson Avenue and Main Street will be closed.

The first piece of the project is scheduled to end in June but more work could begin again in the fall.