Glen Ellyn, Lombard move closer on Hill bridge issue

The back-and-forth continues between Glen Ellyn and Lombard regarding the potential repair bill for an aging bridge that essentially connects the two towns, but lies completely in Lombard.

Glen Ellyn trustees on Monday gave their neighbors to the east the OK to begin drafting an intergovernmental agreement that most likely will split any local costs in half.

Officials for both towns have tentatively agreed on six conditions pushed forward by Glen Ellyn.

But still to be determined is a boundary agreement, and whether or not to install sidewalks and other amenities on the bridge during its reconstruction.

In a response to the list of Glen Ellyn's conditions, Lombard officials said if those amenities were to be included in the bridge - which spans the DuPage River on Hill Avenue - ownership of the bridge would transfer to Glen Ellyn.

While some trustees said they preferred to delay a decision on the amenities while an accord is crafted, Trustee Peter Cooper said it was unnecessary.

"I can't foresee any circumstances in which I'd vote for owning a bridge," he said.

"It's an expensive thing. I don't want to take on the responsibility of having to maintain it for decades to come."

Village Public Works Director Joe Caracci estimated the cost to be $20,000 per year in annual inspections, as well as $100,000 every five years for repairs.

"Repairs on bridges are a different animal than on roadways," Caracci said.

Last month, Lombard officials threatened to close the bridge July 1 if Glen Ellyn did not come up with half of the local share of the bill.

Lombard has said the work will cost about $3 million and had hoped to secure federal funding to pay for 80 percent of the bill. If that happens, it would leave $600,000 to be paid for by the two towns.

"I think it comes down to 'Do we want to own the bridge or not?'" Village Manager Steve Jones said.

Officials said they will notify Lombard that they do not want to own the bridge, but still hope to work out additional amenities on the bridge before a final agreement is reached.

Lombard hopes to get an engineering contract awarded before Aug. 18.

Also at issue are 30 parcels of land near the bridge - previously part of Lombard but now unincorporated - that Glen Ellyn now hopes to absorb as part of the boundary agreement.

Glen Ellyn's Planning Director Staci Hulseberg will do an analysis to see which, if any, properties Glen Ellyn would be interested in.

Cooper said Lombard's cooperation and quick response to Glen Ellyn's list of conditions was a welcome change to initial conversations.

"Many thought we were being held over a barrel and were showing come concern in neighborliness," he said.

"But we are very appreciative of the response. It's a good basis to put together an IGA."