News Details

Downer Place Bridge Construction Starts Monday

With the Downer Place bridges prepared to close Monday, Feb. 6, motorists driving through downtown Aurora should take notice of the new traffic patterns and signals.

Traffic will be detoured south down Broadway Avenue to Benton Street, which will be designated a two-way road between Broadway and River Street throughout the construction period.  Motorists can head west on Benton Street, north on River Street and then continue west on Downer Place to complete the detour.

Three downtown intersections have had signal modifications as part of the bridge closure or detour route. They include:

• Benton Street/River Street – A protected left-hand turn from eastbound Benton to River will be active starting Feb. 6. Temporary lights have been added for westbound Benton as part of the new two-way traffic pattern.
• Stolp Avenue at both Benton Street and Downer Place – Both intersections have been turned to all-way stops with flashing red lights and stop signs.

With downtown Benton becoming two-way, parking on the north side of the street between River and Broadway will be temporarily suspended until further notice.  Other ancillary signage will be posted next week to help motorists to their downtown destinations.

Motorists also are encouraged to use New York Street and North Avenue to bypass the Downer Place construction zone.

Both Downer Place bridges spanning the Fox River will be torn down and replaced this year. The project is expected to take about nine months before the new bridges are reopened to vehicular traffic.

Location: Downer Place, Downtown Aurora, Illinois