CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance amending Section 11-3-1 (Highway Class and Weight Restrictions) of the Naperville Municipal Code to delete the weight restriction for the Washington Street Bridge over the West Branch of the DuPage River
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William J. Novack, P.E., Director of Transportation, Engineering, and Development/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Federal National Bridge Inspection Standards govern the program including inspection and evaluation of highway bridges nationwide. IDOT maintains the inventory of bridges throughout the State of Illinois. City staff works with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to maintain City bridges in accordance with the National Bridge Program.
2016 Weight Restriction:
The IDOT Bridge Office inspected the Washington Street Bridge in downtown Naperville between Chicago Avenue and Aurora Avenue in September 2015. IDOT’s inspection findings were consistent with inspections conducted by City staff and consultants. Following the inspection, IDOT determined that a 15-ton (30,000 pound) weight restriction on the Washington Street Bridge was necessary. On January 19, 2016, the City Council passed Ordinance 16-005 establishing a 15-ton weight restriction.
2022 Weight Restriction:
Following the 2015 inspection, City staff and consultants continued to monitor the bridge condition on a more frequent basis. Based on the results from the October 2022 inspection, IDOT instructed the City to implement an 8-ton (16,000 pound) weight restriction. Additionally, traffic control was implemented to shift traffic away from the failing beams. On October 18, 2022, the City Council passed Ordinance 22-117 establishing an 8-ton weight restriction.
Washington Street Bridge Replacement:
The Washington Street Bridge is currently being reconstructed through IDOT project 61G82. The design of the project began prior to the initial weight restrictions being enacted but construction did not begin until February 2023.
In July 2024, the City’s bridge inspection consultant performed an inspection of the structure following completion of the newly constructed Stage 1 portion of the bridge. All traffic had been routed over the new bridge structure and the remaining old structure was in the process of being demolished. This report was submitted to IDOT in July 2024. In February 2025, City staff became aware that the bridge weight restriction had been removed from the State inventory system. As such, the posted 8-ton weight restriction is no longer in effect for the traffic traversing the new bridge structure.
DISCUSSION:
As of February 2025, the State inventory system no longer displays any restriction at the Washington Street Bridge. As such, the posted 8-ton weight restriction is no longer in effect for traffic traversing the new bridge structure.
City departments including Fire, Police, and Public Works have been notified of this change. Removal of posted signage will occur following approval of this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Following completion of the bridge project, staff and the City’s bridge inspection consultant will return to the standard inspection schedule for the bridge.