Home Avenue pedestrian bridge, built in the late 1950s over the Eisenhower Expressway, is going to get a makeover.
Oak Park trustees approved an engineering services agreement with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., to do the preliminary redesign on the bridge in an amount not exceeding $1,812,191, according to village officials.
The bridge will be replaced along with the Interstate 290 reconstruction. Design work could start as soon as fall 2024 and will take about 16 months.
According to village officials, federal funds will pay for about 80% of the design. Village Engineer Bill McKenna told Wednesday Journal the other 20% will come from Oak Park’s capital improvement funds.
The fiscal year 2024 budget has $300,000 set aside for this project. The village will pay costs upfront and be reimbursed by Illinois later, according to village officials.
In January, the village asked engineering firms to submit their qualifications to plan and design the new bridge. Eleven firms applied; the village interviewed three and chose Stantec.
Stantec has an architectural subconsultant, Rosales + Partners, and together they have designed several pedestrian and bicycle bridges over highways and railroads, according to village officials, contributing to their hire.
The first phase of the project, the preliminary design, will encompass Stantec creating five renderings for the replacement bridge. The consultants will come up with a low-cost option, two medium-cost options and two higher-cost options for the replacement bridge.
“The conceptual designs will also include various options for enlarged and enhanced entryways on both sides of the bridge to improve accessibility, safety, and the user experience,” village officials wrote.
Residents will be able to give feedback during this phase through public open houses and through Engage Oak Park. Stantec’s subconsultant, Images, Inc., will also engage with stakeholders including District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, Chicago Transit Authority and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Commissions including transportation, plan, community design and disability access will also be asked for input.
Village staff are also working to get input from marginalized and minority communities during this process, according to village officials.
The five designs will be reviewed by a steering committee made up of architects, engineers and other professionals. Their recommendation will come to the village board.
The village board will choose a design after examining that recommendation and cost estimates for each of the five designs. Then, IDOT will have to approve it, too.
McKenna has said he thinks it will take roughly three years for the final design to be approved. The design will dictate how long construction might take and how expensive the project will be.