A century-old bridge spanning a ravine and the Waukegan River in the city’s downtown last renovated 40 years ago will be getting an upgrade.
With metal rebar showing and some of the concrete now missing on the underside of the Genesee Street Bridge, as well as general aging, Brett Sauter, an engineer with Ciorba Group which is overseeing the effort, said there are currently no safety concerns.
“It is safe for pedestrians and vehicles,” he said. “Due to the condition, the bridge has a posted load limit of 12 tons. If a truck containing 13 tons (or more) goes over it continually, it will deteriorate faster.”
Spanning the Waukegan River and a ravine, the Genesee Street Bridge is scheduled for repair. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)
Plans for the $11.7 million rehabilitation and replacement project currently in the initial phase of planning were revealed publicly at an open house Wednesday inside a building on South Genesee Street near the bridge.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said improving the bridge was on the list of work to be done for a few years. With funding now available, it is time to begin the process before there is further deterioration.
“With everything you’re seeing across the country, infrastructure and in particular bridges are a number one concern,” she said. “We want to make sure the public knows how the bridge will be impacted.”
Originally built in 1913 and last rehabilitated in 1984, the 370-foot-long bridge spans a portion of Genesee Street, between Water and Lake streets. It is a busy commercial area with retail stores, restaurants and offices.
When work on the project starts in 2026, Mark Johnson, another engineer with Ciorba, said the substructure of the three-span bridge will be rehabilitated and the deck, where people and vehicles cross, will be replaced.
“Nothing has been done in 40 years,” he said. “This project is designed to last 75 years.”
With nearly two years of planning necessary before work can start, Sauter said the first year will be devoted to rehabilitating the underside of the bridge and anything necessary on the supporting structures.
The deck replacement is planned to take place in 2027, when the businesses, their customers and other residents of the area will be most impacted. A detour will reroute vehicles to nearby streets. Sauter said the reroute will last about nine months.
Though motorists can now park on the bridge, Taylor said once the new deck is installed that will no longer be permitted. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will not allow it.
“It’s the law,” she said.
Joseph Hughes, the owner of one of the buildings in the immediate area with retail and other tenants, said at the open house the project will impact his tenants’ incomes, especially when the deck is replaced. Some planning is in order, he said.
“They all have back doors, but some improvements will be necessary to have access,” Hughes said. “When it’s done and cleaned up it will be nice, but there are some unanswered questions. Business owners will struggle.”
Hughes’ building and some others in the area along the ravine have several stories beneath street level on Genesee, which can be seen from the bridge. Commercial activity in the area is more extensive than is visible.
One of those businesses is Family Piano on the west side of Genesee, north of the bridge. Company President Brendan Alviani, said he understands the need for the work. His store windows — he occupies the street level and floors below — have a clear view of the ravine.
“I can see the slabs of concrete which have fallen,” he said. “It’s not going to be as long as I thought,” he added, referring to the nine months when the detour will be in place. “I thought it would be longer.”
As the deck is replaced, Sauter said drivers will be routed a block west to County Street, to travel between Water and Lake.
Currently, in Phase One of the engineering portion of the project, Johnson said preliminary work requiring approval from IDOT is underway. It will be done by fall.
Once the initial phase is complete, Johnson said more detailed plans will be done so a potential contractor knows precisely what work must be undertaken. It will be sufficient for them to bid on the job. It will be ready in late 2025, so construction can start the following year.
