Lombard, Glen Ellyn will split bridge costs

Lombard trustees approved Thursday an agreement to split the cost of replacing the Hill Avenue bridge with the village of Glen Ellyn.

“It's what we've requested all along, seeing as how we partner in that bridge and Glen Ellyn uses it equally, said Lombard Trustee Greg Gron, whose district includes the Hill Avenue bridge.

The bridge, spanning the east branch of the DuPage River, connects the east side of Glen Ellyn to the west side of Lombard. It has been in need of replacement since 2009, according to Lombard's bridge program manager.

State funds will pay 80 percent of the estimated $2.2 million needed to replace the bridge. The intragovernmental agreement Lombard approved Thursday governs how the remaining 20 percent will be paid.

Under the agreement, which Glen Ellyn approved Sept. 27, Glen Ellyn will reimburse Lombard half of the local contribution for engineering and construction costs until Glen Ellyn has paid $300,000. If the local contribution exceeds $600,000, Lombard will pay 100 percent of the extra costs.

“We've split the cost of a bridge we share the benefit of, Carl Goldsmith, Lombard's public works director, said.

Some Lombard properties west of Interstate 355 and along Hill Avenue likely will become part of Glen Ellyn under the agreement. Glen Ellyn has until Jan. 30 to notify Lombard whether it wants to pursue several possible boundary changes mentioned in the agreement.

An engineering design study will be the first step in rebuilding the bridge, and the first bill paid under the new agreement.

Lombard received an estimate stating the first phase of design costs will total about $210,000, with the state paying $168,000 and Lombard and Glen Ellyn splitting the remaining $42,000.

No date has been set for bridge construction to begin. Vehicles still can cross the bridge safely; however, the bridge's weight limit was lowered after officials noticed deterioration, Goldsmith said.