Story posted Thursday, January 28, 2010
Village OKs Higgins Rd. Bridge Engineer Contract
Elk Grove Village trustees awarded a $225,958 professional services contract to TranSystems of Schaumburg to complete an engineering preparation report for a planned pedestrian and bike bridge over Higgins Road near Route 53 into Busse Woods.
The bridge project is a joint venture between Elk Grove Village and the Ill. Dept. of Transportation (IDOT) that will use federally earmarked money to complete the project.
Last April, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6th) secured a $444,600 federal grant for the project that will be an 80/20 split with the village.
Mayor Craig Johnson said that the village will be refunded 80% of all funds spent in the preparation report contract with a spending limit of $225,958.
The report is expected to take 12-14 months to complete, said Village Engineer Alan Boffice. After IDOT has approved the initial report, a phase two-design report will be completed and reviewed before actual construction can start.
Johnson said the proposed bridge will complete a circle of three bridges into Busse Woods that includes a bridge at Biesterfield Road and Route 53 and another near Higgins and Arlington Hts. roads.
Though not located in Elk Grove Village, Johnson said the new bridge is essential for the safety of residents and other visitors to Busse Woods.
Busse Woods has more visitors each year than Yellowstone National Park, said Johnson, and is a federally designated natural national landmark.
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