CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The state has made plans for making structural repairs on a couple of well-used bridges that need them: The I-80 bridges over the Des Plaines River in Joliet.
The bridges were built in 1965 and received major updates 21 years ago. But now, the bridge inspection reports indicate that they're in serious need of work. They have sufficiency ratings of 7.4 or less, with 100 being the best.
Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Guy Tridgell said a $5 million contract for repairs has now been awarded.
"We'll be out in the field, more than likely, in the next couple of months," Tridgell said. "There's some fabrication work that takes place prior to that. We're going to be replacing some of the bridge bearings on the approach sections of the bridge and then some structural steel repairs, as well."
In the meantime, he said, the bridges are safe and open to nearly 43,000 vehicles a day.
"They're assuring us the bridge is structurally sound," Joliet Mayor Bob O'DeKirk said. "That makes us all feel better."
O'DeKirk said IDOT has been consistent that, if they felt the bridges were in imminent danger, IDOT would close them now.
Tridgell said the stay has a rigorous inspection program and says all bridges in Illinois are safe to drive on.
I-80 Westbound bridge superstructure over the Des Plaines River has been listed in poor or worse condition since a June 4, 2009 inspection. In that inspection, the superstructure was listed as poor-advanced deterioration. Sub-structure was listed in fair condition in that inspection.
On April 30, 2018, the superstructure was listed in "critical condition-may require closure"; substructure listed as "satisfactory condition-minor deterioration," according to IDOT inspections. The superstructure sufficiency rating was 6.0, with 100 being the best.
The eastbound bridge over the river is rated at 7.4 superstructure sufficiency.
As for the westbound bridge, in an inspection on May 27, 2010, IDOT listed both the superstructure and the substructure in poor condition-Advanced deterioration.
On May 5, 2011, the superstructure was listed in serious condition-significant section loss; substructure was listed in poor condition-advanced deterioration.
On April 30, 2012, the superstructure was listed in poor condition-advanced deterioration; substructure listed in satisfactory condition-minor deterioration. The same evaluation occurred on April 29, 2013, March 10, 2014, April 27, 2015, April 25, 2016, April 24, 2017,
