Progress on Trail Improvements
The Great Western Trail Bridges (Lombard)
The Great Western Trail Bridges project will consist of three new bridges, paved trail, and trail lighting in the Village of Lombard. The new bridge will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Grace Street, the Union Pacific Railroad, and St. Charles Road via a series of bridges and avoid the busy railroad crossing and numerous street crossings. The Engineer’s estimate for the project is $5.8 Million, which is funded through a Surface Transportation Program (Federal) grant, the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (Illinois Commerce Commission), the Village of Lombard, and DuPage County. The new bridges will provide one of the public’s most requested improvement for the Great Western Trail. View project location map.
Current Status
The bridges' ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 25, 2013.
North Central DuPage Regional Trail Bridge at County Farm Road
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is working with DuPage County Department of Transportation to design and construct a missing trail link and bridge over County Farm Road in Hanover Park. Once completed, this will connect forest preserve trails in the Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve and Mallard Lake Forest Preserve and complete a crucial missing link of the North Central DuPage Regional Trail. View project location map.
Current Status
The Forest Preserve District and the County have reached an agreement on a cost share to fund this project which was approved by the FPD Board in 11/2012. Additional funds will be sought through grant funding. After ten years of planning, this progress on this bridge is moving forward.
Illinois Prairie Path Underpass at Chase Street
To facilitate track improvements, the Union Pacific Railroad is closing vehicular access at Chase Street in Wheaton. In conjunction with track improvements, they will construct a pedestrian underpass that will connect Wheaton College with the Illinois Prairie Path. This underpass will improve pedestrian safety of this crossing which has a relatively high volume of freight and commuter railroad traffic. The improvements will be paid for in part through a grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Metra. View project location map.
Current Status
The underpass is constructed, but not yet opened. Work remains to connect the underpass to the existing sidewalkswithin the Wheaton College campus and to the Prairie Path. The anticipated completion date is Spring 2013.
Benedictine Connector Trail
The Benedictine Connector Trail will link downtown Lisle and Benedictine College and is a part of the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail. In addition, the trail will be routed through Community Park, an underpass under the Burlington Northern Railroad, and along the East Branch of the DuPage River. View project location map.
Current Status
This project is in the design and engineering phase. There is no timetable for construction.
Illinois Prairie Path Main Stem crossing of the Canadian National Railroad
The Canadian National Railroad has received a grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission to install crossing gates and realign the trail where the Illinois Prairie Path’s Main Stem crosses the Canadian National Railroad in Elmhurst. View project location map.
Current Status
The gates and crossing surface have been installed but are not activated. The county has retained a consultant to redesign the approaches' alignments to the railroad crossing; construction is anticipated in 2014.
Illinois Prairie Path - Aurora Spur crossing of the EJ&E Railroad
The EJ&E Railroad has received a grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission to improve the crossing to improve path user safety where the IPP crosses its tracks in Aurora. View project location map.
Current Status
The county is working to obtain funds to construct an underpass and restore the original trail alignment. Preliminary engineering studies have been initiated.
Warrenville Road – Lucent Connector segment of the East Branch DuPage River Trail
The County seeks to design and build an on-street bikeway between Yackley Avenue and Naperville Road along Warrenville Road in Lisle. Along this corridor, there are carriageways, wide curb lanes, and missing bikeway accommodations. This connector is part of the East Branch DuPage River Trail and will help connect trails in the Danada Forest Preserve with the Morton Arboretum and future Benedictine Connector Trail. View project location map.
Current Status
The County recently retained consultants to determine the cost and feasibility of various bikeway and pedestrian accommodation options along this corridor.
31st Street Trail – Highland to Meyers
The 31st Street Trail is a segment of the I-88 Central DuPage Bikeway which connects the communities of Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lombard. The 31st Street Trail would construct a one-mile missing segment between Highland Avenue and Meyers Road. It would connect the municipal bikeway systems of Downers Grove and Oak Brook to Lyman Woods Forest Preserve; Midwestern University; and employment centers at the west end of the corridor. By extending the existing trail in Oak Brook along 31st Street further west, Downers Grove, west Oak Brook and unincorporated residents will gain easy access to Mayslake Forest Preserve, Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, Oak Brook parks, and the 35-mile Salt Creek Greenway Trail. View project location map.
Current Status
The project alignment has been determined and the project is moving forward with design engineering. There is no timetable for construction.
South Lisle-Woodridge Trail segment of the East Branch DuPage River Trail
This proposed project would construct a link to connect the Southern Trail at Hobson Road to the Benedictine Connector Trail at Maple Avenue. This 5.5 mile segment, known as the South Lisle/Woodridge Trail, is the southern end of the 31-mile East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail.
The trail would originate at a 4-mile East Branch Trail segment funded and planned for 2014 construction called the Benedictine Connector. Along the way, the South Lisle/Woodridge Trail would connect River Road Park, River Bend Golf Course, the Four Lakes residential community (350-acre mixed use development housing 5000 residents in an active outdoor recreation-oriented community), the Sox-Bulls Training Camp, and Seven Bridges Golf Course. The trail would terminate at the 46-mile Southern DuPage County Regional Trail and the 1425-acre Greene Valley Forest Preserve. View project location map.
Current Status
The County has worked with the Village of Lisle and other project partners to determine the most effective alignment and has completed Phase I engineering. We are currently awaiting IDOT’s approval of the Phase I engineering report. There is no immediate construction schedule anticipated.
Swift Road segment of the East Branch DuPage River Trail
This proposed project would construct a link to connect the Great Western Trail to North Avenue and St. Charles Road via a 10-foot crushed limestone sidepath. View project location map.
Current Status
The design has been submitted to IDOT and approved. The County is working with ComEd to obtain easements and coordinate potential utility pole relocations. The project could be released for construction bidding in the Fall of 2013, however, there is no immediate construction schedule anticipated.
Kuhn Road Trail
The Kuhn Road Trail will provide an important link between the Great Western Trail and the Village’s newly constructed Lies Road Path. By connecting to this new path, the Kuhn Road facility will allow users to access the Carol Stream Towne Center and the West Branch Forest Preserve on the north. On the south, the Great Western Trail will take residents either east or west on over 50 miles of regional trails by connecting to the Illinois Prairie Path.
The County has worked closely with Carol Stream and the Carol Stream Park District to enhance access between the community and the Great Western Trail. Our combined efforts ensured that IDOT provided an appropriate grade-separated bike/ped crossing for the improved North Avenue (constructed several years ago). This work was done in anticipation of creating this new trail along Kuhn Road at a future date. View project location map.
Current Status
Construction is anticipated in 2013.
Gary Avenue Trail
A sidepath is planned along Gary Avenue between the Great Western Trail and Army Trail Road as a part of the Gary Avenue roadway improvement project.
Current Status
The project is in the design phase. Construction is anticipated for 2014 or 2015.