Busse Woods bicycle and pedestrian bridge progressing ahead of schedule

Construction of a long-awaited bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Higgins Road in Busse Woods just east of Route 53 took a significant step late last week with the installation of the main structure over the roadway.

The progress brings the project's expected completion date forward from its original March 2014 goal and much closer to what Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson has been hoping for.

“We're still hoping to have it done before the end of the year, but it's all weather-related,” Johnson said. “We are running well ahead of schedule.”

Construction began on July 8.

Elk Grove Village agreed to pay 20 percent of the project's cost, which came in much lower than expected at $2.8 million, including engineering. The village had expected its share to be about $700,000, but it was only about $450,000, Johnson said.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam secured $450,000 in federal grant funding for the project's engineering.

Safety has always been the goal of the project, but its urgency was underscored in May when experienced bicyclist Rosaleen Waters, 46, of Elk Grove Village was fatally struck by a car while she attempted to cross Higgins Road at the future site of the bridge.