Plainfield sees delay in building of pedestrian bridge
By Madhu Mayer For The Herald-News September 25, 2012 8:20AM
Updated: November 1, 2012 6:11AM
PLAINFIELD — The village of Plainfield Monday dealt with an unanticipated conflict concerning the new Lockport Street pedestrian bridge.
In June, the Plainfield Village Board awarded a winning bid of $1,073,237 to construct the bridge.
Allen Persons, public works director, said the bridge is needed as the heavy traffic on the state roadway cannot properly accommodate pedestrians as they attempt to cross the river on the narrow pathway.
The board learned that staff has been working to resolve an issue with getting the construction actually started on the pedestrian bridge.
“After the bid was awarded, the contractor started on the layout for the excavation and concrete work,” said Randall Jessen, superintendent of public improvements for Plainfield.
A conflict came to light on the east side of the bridge, he said.
“The work needed to safely dig for the new wing wall extension is going to put in jeopardy the existing ComEd switch gear box and pole,” said Jessen. “Simply put, there is not enough room to do the work without relocating the switch gear/transformer first.”
Frank Perez, senior project manager for ComEd’s public relocation department, said the engineer’s estimated cost to relocate the existing overhead facilities along the south side of Lockport Street from just east of the DuPage River to the ComEd right-of-way on the west portion of the project is $217,948.
“This plan will relocate pole on east and west sides of the river and switch gear, transformer at the east bridge approach,” said Perez.
The bridge project will be financed through a $1 million state capital grant, along with money from the village’s capital account. The village board this summer also adopted a resolution for the use of motor fuel tax funds for construction engineering for sidewalk, pedestrian bridge and street lighting construction, not to exceed $115,000.
The construction of the proposed pedestrian walkway, over the DuPage River, is expected to provide an important connection between the downtown business district, Riverfront Park, Settlers’ Park, Village Hall and the Pace bus stop, Persons said.
Persons said the project will be finished by the end of the year. He expects ComEd to start relocating the overhead electrical lines along the south side of Lockport Street at DuPage River next month.
