Construction of bridge connecting Mount Prospect parks could begin next year

A pedestrian bridge linking Melas Park to Meadows Park in Mount Prospect has been talked about for seven years.

But the bridge spanning Northwest Highway and the Union Pacific tracks appears to be getting closer to becoming a reality.

The village board is expected to decide whether to approve the project in February, with construction taking place during the spring.

Village officials said they expect to award a construction engineering contract in September and present plans to the Illinois Department of Transportation that same month. IDOT is expected to begin soliciting bids in January.

IDOT will oversee the project and bill the village its share of costs, which is about 20% of the project, Public Works Director Sean Dorsey said.

As for those costs, Dorsey said the village has completed most of the engineering. The remaining costs stand at nearly $9.7 million, including more than $8 million to build the bridge and more than $800,000 for construction engineering. The total village expenditure is estimated at $1.7 million, with the majority of the costs covered by grants.

Dorsey notes there are grant funds available to cover any cost overruns by about $890,000.

The park district and village have already agreed on an easement for the bridge in Meadows Park.

If the village board’s 4-2 vote in favor of approving the easement agreement is any indication, the majority leans toward building the bridge.

“I think it will be one of our crown jewels,” Trustee Terri Gens said.

Trustee Colleen Saccotelli said it will connect the north and south parts of town and enable people to move safely between parks, especially children.

But the two no votes from Trustees William Grossi and Beth DiPrima also showed that not everybody is on board.

DiPrima said she still has questions about safety and ramp design.

“I think it’s premature for me to vote yes on this (easement), when we haven’t even approved the bridge yet,” she said.

Grossi said two red flags are the uncertainty surrounding federal and state funding and inflation relating to material costs.

“We still have to pay 20% of anything that is a shortfall. Our number can go up,” he said. “We’re still responsible for 20% of every dollar that goes out in excess.”