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TO: Mayor John Laesch and City Council
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: June 12, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the appropriation of REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds and/or MFT Funds for the Phase 2 Design Engineering for New York Street Bridge Project.
PURPOSE:
To Appropriate REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds and/or Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The existing New York Street Bridge over the Fox River (SN 045-0012) is a historic nine span open spandrel concrete arch bridge with two approach spans. The bridge was originally constructed circa 1931 and rehabilitated in the early 1990s. The bridge ratings are low enough where the project is eligible for federal funds. This federal funding source is Local Bridge Formula Program (LBFP), previously known as STP-Bridge (STP-Br), and all engineering phases of the project and construction are eligible for federal funding at an 80/20 split (80% Federal, 20% Local).
The Phase 1 study of this project was started in September 2022 by Alfred Benesch & Company (Benesch) in an agreement approved by City Council (22-246). More information including exhibits can be found at the project website:
https://www.aurora.il.us/Government-and-Engagement/Current-City-Projects/New-York-Street-Bridge-Project.
DISCUSSION:
The bridge is historically significant and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). IDOT and their partners have been extremely slow on the historic review of this project, which was first initiated by Benesch in December 2022. This has caused delays in the Phase 1 study approval.
Phase 2 engineering will hopefully begin sometime later this year, but due to the federal funding involved, the City needs to wait until Phase 1 design approval is achieved before starting on Phase 2 engineering. At a later date we will provide City Council with the detailed engineering agreement and joint agreement for fede...
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