Funding for St. Charles bridge can't find congressional support
St. Charles officials have abandoned hope for securing federal money for its $30 million Red Gate Bridge project through U.S. Rep. Bill Foster's office.
And even if voters select a new congressman in November, the city now believes the Illinois Department of Transportation is its best bet at nabbing any stimulus funds still out there for bridge projects.
Mayor Don DeWitte has had several discussions with Foster's office about securing money for the project, but those talks have resulted in Foster refusing to choose sides in a political tug-of-war between St. Charles and Wayne.
The two-lane bridge would create a new crossing over the Fox River and extend Red Gate Road from Route 31 to Route 25. But Wayne residents have continuously rallied against the bridge because they don't want the additional traffic it might generate through their community.
Foster Spokeswoman Shannon O'Brien said Monday it wouldn't be right for the congressman to play favorites between two communities within the 14th District he represents.
"He does not oppose the construction of the bridge," O'Brien said. "But it's a major source of controversy. If (DeWitte) were to get Wayne on board with the project, (Foster) would totally support it."
Even DeWitte said that's not likely to happen. So DeWitte lobbied Foster's Republican opponent, Randy Hultgren, for support of the bridge project last week when Hultgren appeared at a St. Charles Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Hultgren, however, would not commit to backing any funding for the bridge, saying he didn't know enough about the project to pledge funding. But Hultgren also said he's very aware of Wayne's concerns.
With that in mind, DeWitte said he'll focus his lobbying on IDOT.
"There are still a number of federal stimulus grants being made," DeWitte said. "The majority of them are coming through IDOT now. The conversations we've have with Congressman Foster's office have been very cordial. I can certainly understand his position with regards to choosing one community over the other.
"But I have to reiterate for everyone that there is overwhelming support withing St. Charles Township, on both sides of the river, for the construction of this river crossing," he added.
The city is in the fifth year of trying to get the initial phase of engineering plans for the project signed off on by federal transportation officials. DeWitte said he hopes approval, key to the city obtaining IDOT funding, will come before the end of the year.