The Village of Hinsdale has begun the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Studies for the replacement of the Oak Street Bridge. This project’s purpose is to develop a range of improvement alternatives, select a preferred improvement, and determine the potential impacts of proposed improvement. The project began in January of 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2012.

Oak Street Bridge’s 100 year-old steel and timber structure is reaching the end of its useful life. Recent inspections have identified substandard capacity, insufficient  vertical clearance under the bridge, poor sight distance over the bridge, and an uneven walkway for pedestrians as existing deficiencies. Replacement of the bridge would bring the only above-grade railroad crossing in Hinsdale up to current design standards, improve emergency response time and regional railroad capacity, and maintain access to schools, parks and Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. Public input is an important part of this project.  Public meetings and Community Working Group meetings will be held at project milestones over the next 15 months.  Please continue to check the project website for updates on the current status of the project. If you would like to receive notifications of scheduled meetings and important updates, sign up on the project website to be added to the mailing list.

Update

A Public Information Meeting was held for the Oak Street Bridge Replacement Project on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. at Memorial Hall in the Memorial Building at 19 E. Chicago Avenue, Hinsdale, IL 60521. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update on the project development and present information on the study process and preliminary alternatives.  Attendees had an opportunity to watch a slideshow presentation, review project exhibits, and to meet with the project study team to discuss the project.

Your comments and opinions are an important part of this project.  The Public Meeting comment period ended on November 11, 2011, and the comments received are currently being summarized.  If you would like to be notified when a summary of comments are available, please add your name and email address in the Email Subscription area at the bottom of this page.