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Bridging the divide: Pedestrian span will link Busse Woods, new Elk Grove development

The steel girder assembly for a new pedestrian bridge that will span Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village was set in place with the use of a mobile crane Tuesday.

  A mobile crane is used Tuesday to lift into place the steel assembly of a pedestrian bridge across Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village. The bridge will connect the Busse Woods forest preserve with a new mixed-use development across the road. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

In just six minutes, the framework across the roadway was lifted into place, where construction workers installed bolts to secure it. With much of the vertical concrete and steel supports already installed, the process of placing the horizontal steel span kept Arlington Heights Road closed for less than half an hour.

  Construction crews work Tuesday to install the steel framework of a new pedestrian bridge across Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Construction workers secure bolts after the steel assembly of a pedestrian bridge spanning Arlington Heights Road was lifted into place Tuesday in Elk Grove Village. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

When completed next year, the $8.4 million pedestrian bridge will connect the Busse Woods forest preserve on the west side of Arlington Heights Road with the new The Vue development across the road.

The Vue is the redevelopment of the former Elk Grove Woods Plaza at Arlington Heights and Higgins roads. The project will replace the aging shopping center with two retail buildings; a five-story, 270-unit apartment building with 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail; a 530-space parking deck; and 16 townhouses.

  A mobile crane is used Tuesday to lift into place the steel assembly of a pedestrian bridge across Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village. The bridge will connect the Busse Woods forest preserve with a new mixed-use development across the road. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  A mobile crane moves into place the steel assembly of a pedestrian bridge that will span Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village. When completed next year, the bridge will connect the Busse Woods forest preserve with the new The Vue development across the road. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

Elk Grove Village Deputy Director of Public Works Ken Jay said the bridge will be the first elevated pedestrian crossing in town.

“We have a lot of at-grade crossings, but this is our first one that will be elevated, which is as safe as it gets,” he said.

  Traffic passes under the steel assembly of a pedestrian bridge that will connect Busse Woods forest preserve with a new mixed-use development along Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com