IDOT repairing crumbling cosmetic concrete on Algonquin bypass bridge

State crews are fixing crumbling cosmetic concrete on the Algonquin Western Bypass bridge, officials said.

The concrete was starting to break off underneath the bridge on a section that does not hang over traffic, Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Gianna Urgo said. The issue poses no threat to travelers or to the structure of the bridge over Route 62, she said.

"It's an aesthetics issue," Urgo said. "It wasn't structural, so it's not a safety hazard at all."

The $88.5 million bypass project - a four-lane, 2.2 mile road that allows motorists to bypass along Route 31 just west of downtown Algonquin - was completed in September 2014.

The Algonquin village board recently brought the concrete issue to light, Village President John Schmitt said, noting that it was likely the result of a problem with the concrete mix. The village's public works department was also made aware of the situation.

Schmitt said it's normal for large construction projects to need a few tweaks after their completion.

"The problem here wasn't in an area that was over the road, so anything that would've fallen off wouldn't have hurt anyone on the road," Schmitt said. "But any time you have that, you have to inspect the whole thing to make sure it isn't an issue for the whole project."

Urgo said crews began work last week to remove the crumbling concrete, and the repairs will likely be complete within the next two weeks, weather permitting.