Maple Grove Bridge and Sanitary Sewer Replacement
Project Overview
Based on available historical information, the bridge crossing St. Joseph Creek was originally built in the early 1900s by the predecessor to the Downers Grove Sanitary District. The bridge was constructed solely to carry a 24-inch sanitary sewer over the creek and consisted of a U-shaped concrete structure supported by concrete piers.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County took ownership of the bridge in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the Forest Preserve District added a concrete deck and railing to accommodate pedestrian traffic. The structure is approximately 122 feet long, with a clear width between railings of 3.5 feet.
Recent structural inspections indicate that the bridge needs replacement. Because the sanitary sewer runs through the bridge, the sewer will also be replaced as part of the project.
Mar
2026
Status: In Design
In 2023, the Forest Preserve District entered into a $117,160 contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. to analyze alternatives for replacing the bridge and sewer and to evaluate their relative costs.
The firm submitted a feasibility report in August 2024 recommending a new 14-foot-wide, 75-foot-long single-span press-brake-formed tub girder bridge. This bridge type was selected for its constructability and longer life span.
Because the existing bridge carries an active sanitary sewer owned by the Downers Grove Sanitary District, coordination during design is essential to the project's success.
In May 2023, the Forest Preserve District and the Sanitary District entered into an intergovernmental agreement establishing a 50/50 cost share for the initial alternatives analysis performed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
In June 2025, the Forest Preserve District and the Sanitary District entered into a second intergovernmental agreement to share the cost of Phase 1 and Phase 2 engineering, with the Forest Preserve District covering 65% of the cost and the Sanitary District covering 35%. A third agreement is anticipated for construction costs.
That same month, the Forest Preserve District entered into a $279,480 contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. to complete the engineering design for the recommended bridge replacement.
Design of the project is currently underway, with construction tentatively anticipated to begin in 2027.
Funding
This project was awarded $750,000 in Federal Highway Infrastructure funding to help support the estimated $1.3 million construction cost.
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