By Gregory Harutunian ~ Correspondent
The replacement of the Winn Street Bridge, an arterial route between East Solon Road and Route 12 in Spring Grove, continues to make a solid progression towards its intended completion window in a few months.
Support posts are being hammered into place this week in keeping with the “fieldstone-type design” of the new structure.
The new bridge is slated for a late September or early October completion date and re-opening to the surrounding commercial and recreational traffic, which it serves.
The demolition and removal of the previous span was done in June, and a gap over the Nippersink Creek exists, except for the weight-bearing posts that resemble a ribbing pattern.
“It was built in the 1960s, and was deemed ready for replacement, simply from the point of safety,” said Laura Frumet, Spring Grove’s Deputy Village Clerk. “The new bridge has a different design than the recently completed one at Blivin Street. That one was opened last fall, and the village had made plans for this project.”
The Glendale Heights-based firm of Dunnet and Bay was hired as the contractor for the project work order, by the Village Board. “The cost of the job order was “$1,464,209.76 for the Winn Street bridge project,” said Frumet.
The business also undertook work related to the replacement of the Blivin Street bridge, after McHenry County had issued a closure order in citing deterioration and other structural damage to its integrity, following an approval by the state of Illinois Department of Transportation.
“Both bridges differ in design, whereas the Blivin overpass utilized a “straight rock” feature at the buttresses, Winn Street uses a ‘fieldstone-type’ layout which is more specific to the terrain,” she said. “The contracting firm was also responsible for the demolition and removal of the former structure.”
A hydraulic pile driver is currently on site and hammering support posts into the ground along the sight lines for the eventual placement of crossbars, as the next stage. Construction crews have been working diligently, through the heat and humidity of this month’s drought-like conditions, and are forging ahead toward the tentative completion time window.
“This is something predicated upon safety for users of the bridge, and the replacement is driven by that need,” said Frumet. “It was just time.”
In other village news
The Richmond-Spring Grove Chamber of Commerce seventh annual Charity Auto Show is set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday, July 29, to help benefit the local Boy Scout troops, and the chamber’s own scholarship program for students.
The host site is Scot Forge, at the intersection of Winn Road and Route 12 in Spring Grove, not far from the Winn road bridge replacement site.
There will be a D.J., food, a 50/50 raffle, drinks, and a prize raffle. The People’s Choice Awards are taking place at 1:30 p.m., with judging for “Best Paint,” “Most Original,” “Most Customized,” and “Best Overall” being included in the categories.