Grant request being considered to help pay for new bridge on Des Plaines River Trail over Lake-Cook Road

Des Plaines River Trail users could see a big upgrade in the future as the Lake and Cook counties’ forest preserve districts pursue funding to replace the bridge over Lake-Cook Road.

Built in the mid-1990s to provide a safer crossing separated from the busy road, an agreement at the time provided that each district would assume responsibility for the portion of the multiuse bridge and approaches in the respective county.

Based on recent inspections, the agencies agree the bridge and approach require structural rehabilitation, according to the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

A recommendation to be considered Monday by the forest board’s planning committee calls for the agencies to jointly pursue a state grant to be used toward engineering and construction of the $7.33 million project.

Lake County would be the lead agency and prepare and submit documentation for the maximum grant amount of $5 million through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

Estimated local costs of the project would be $2.33 million, according to information provided to the committee by Kevin Kleinjan, Lake County forest preserve planning director.

That includes a $1.25 million match for construction and engineering costs totaling $1.08 million that either exceed the anticipated maximum grant amount or are ineligible.

Those costs largely would be split between the Cook and Lake forest preserve districts.

If the grant is not awarded, the districts will cooperate to determine alternative options for phasing, funding and completing necessary rehab work and an intergovernmental agreement could be renegotiated or terminated.

The Des Plaines River Trail is about 31 miles long and runs through a dozen forest preserves as it spans Lake County from north to south. In Cook County, the paved and unpaved trail extends about 28 miles south to Foster Avenue east of the Edens Expressway.

The forest board’s planning committee meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the general offices, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com