After 3 years, Ardmore bridge reopens in Villa Park

Nearly three years of inconvenience for Villa Park motorists finally came to an end Monday when the newly improved Ardmore Avenue bridge opened to vehicles.

The structure, which spans the Canadian National Railroad tracks from Sunset Drive to south of North Avenue, was overhauled as part of a roughly $2.2 million project that included the replacement of deteriorated columns, support panels and the bridge deck.

Village President Tom Cullerton said after a Monday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony that it’s “spectacular” to have the overpass back.

“It was something that severely hurt the community while it was down,” Cullerton said. “But now that it’s up, it’s going to be a huge benefit to everybody.”

The bridge was closed to vehicles on Aug. 25, 2009 after inspections found that the structure could no longer safely accommodate the weight of most SUVs.

Officials acknowledge that it took a long time to get the project done. The bridge stood closed for almost two years before construction even started.

While the federal government picked up 80 percent of the total cost, the village had to come up with the rest of the money. The process also was slowed by contracts and plans needing to be reviewed multiple times by the state.

“It would have been nice if we had more lead time from the state to make sure that we had everything ready for when they shut it down,” said Cullerton, adding that village officials started meeting with the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2007. “But I don’t think they even realized how quickly the bridge had deteriorated.”

The original Ardmore Avenue bridge dates back to the 1940s. Officials said it was rebuilt in 1979.

Before the closure, the bridge was heavily used by motorists traveling to and from North Avenue. Traffic on the bridge is expected to be busy once again, officials said.

Village Manager Richard Keehner Jr. said the bridge will provide easier access to businesses in the area and help reduce emergency response times. “It’s a key corridor,” he said.

Cullerton predicts the bridge will provide a boost to the train station.

“Our train station was in great shape before,” Cullerton said. “But this is going to make it easier for commuters. This is going to make it easier for development to happen around the train station.”

The bridge work wasn’t the only improvement made as part of the project. Hill Street was resurfaced about a month ago.

Keehner said the work was needed because Hill Street “took a lot of punishment” while being used as part of a detour route.

The village also received a $900,000 grant to make various streetscape improvements around the bridge. That work is expected to include streetlights and landscaping.

“It will definitely be a very welcoming entrance to the village of Villa Park,” Cullerton said.