(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Long Grove’s historic bridge has been hit by trucks again -- a couple of times in just the past week.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says Long Grove’s bridge has been hit by vehicles 49 times since being reinforced a couple of years ago.
“I don’t understand why people aren’t paying attention. It’s very well marked,” says Dan Kublank, who works in a nearby business.
The historic bridge was hit by small trucks last Friday and again on Monday.
“This last guy on Monday actually poked a hole, a pretty good-sized hole … just above the apron of the bridge,” Kublank said.
It’s common for his co-workers to take pictures and share them when trucks slam into it, he said. It’s not that the drivers don’t get warned, he said.
“There are also signs at the beginning of the block that let them know there’s a low clearance. They just don’t pay attention.”
Kristoffer Neumann works at Viking Treasures, which is near the bridge. He says that, when he can, he runs outside to try to wave down panel trucks or big vans that are headed for the bridge. Most times, he’s not able to stop them.
“Sometimes, they’re going too fast,” Neumann said.
He describes the sound of the trucks hitting the bridge as “a crunchy whoomph.”
Neumann adds: “Thanks to the engineering of the new cover that they put on a few years ago, it’s all steel reinforced, so, most of the damage is fairly superficial. They’ve just had to replace a few boards.”
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