On Saturday, May 9, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County marked the start of construction on the final stretch of the 26-mile West Branch DuPage River Trail with a ceremony at Blackwell Forest Preserve.

The final 0.7-mile segment will connect Blackwell and West DuPage Woods forest preserves and feature a 750-foot prefabricated steel truss pedestrian bridge over Route 38 (Roosevelt Road) and the West Branch DuPage River.

At the celebration, Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard was joined by members of the Board of Commissioners, staff, project partners, donors, and elected officials to recognize the collaborative effort behind the project.

“This project is about more than one bridge,” Hebreard said. “It connects forest preserves, communities, and regional trails while turning years of planning and partnerships into a safer, continuous route residents can enjoy.”

Construction began in March 2026 and is expected to be completed in June 2027. Most of the $8.5 million project is being funded through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program and Surface Transportation Program. The Forest Preserve District is contributing $1.88 million.

The 26-mile West Branch DuPage River Trail roughly follows the West Branch DuPage River and winds through several DuPage forest preserves. When complete, it will connect the North Central DuPage Regional Trail at Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve in Bartlett to Will County to the south, where it continues as the DuPage River Trail. The Forest Preserve District has worked with DuPage County, municipalities, and park districts for decades to complete the regional trail system.

Photos from the event are available at: https://show.pics.io/wbdrt-bridge-groundbreaking