Storm knocks out part of Great Western Trail in Lily Lake

Monday and Tuesday's storms combined with recent rainy weather has taken a toll on an older portion of the Great Western Trail, according to Kane County officials.

A 10-foot section of the heavily used bike trail is closed indefinitely between

Hanson and Woolley roads in Lily Lake, just east of Route 47, according to the Kane County Forest Preserve District.

A 100-year old limestone box culvert, formerly installed when the line was a railroad, collapsed Tuesday due to water damage. The trail cannot be rerouted in the area due to the steep grade of the embankment. There is a 22-foot drop where the destroyed culvert is being removed. The trail has been closed and barricaded, and the forest preserve district is in the process of obtaining estimates for repairs.

Users of the Great Western Trail should watch for closure signs and be

mindful of the possibility of construction traffic and workers on or around the trail.

The Tri-Cities area received about an inch of rain overnight Monday and into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, with another inch possible through Wednesday.

For more information on the trail, and other forest preserve properties, go to kaneforest.com or call (630) 232-5980.