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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

Construction Updates

05/04/12

Construction activities have resumed on the Downer Place bridge project. Minor concrete removal and repairs have been made this week to the east pier of the west bridge and on the west abutment of the east bridge.

In the coming weeks (weather permitting), work crews will be forming and pouring concrete on the lower portions of the pier as well as continuing the removal of bridge demolition material on both west abutments.

04/06/12

Demolition work was completed on both Downer Place bridges last week except for a small amount remaining at each abutment.

D Construction has a material delivery scheduled later this month and work will begin on the west pier of the west bridge.

Coffer damns were installed prior to April 1 to isolate the abutments and piers from the Fox River. Construction work can take place within the coffer damns but not outside of the barriers between April 1 and June 15 due to fish spawning restrictions per the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Starting this month, some parking on the north side of Benton Street has been made available to the public. Meters that still have bags over them are not designated parking spots.

03/14/12

Demolition work has shifted to the Downer Place west bridge this week as crews already have removed the structure’s center span.

D Construction was able to start demolition after completing building entry support at 31 W. Downer Place last week. Construction crews started demo work on the east span of the west bridge today. They will then move to the west span afterward.

While a majority of the Downer Place east bridge demolition is complete, work is expected to resume later this week to take out the abutments at the bridge using small jackhammers.

03/06/12

The riverwalk at Downer Place in downtown Aurora will be closed temporarily as demolition work continues on the last segment of the east bridge.

Signage will be posted along the riverwalk on Benton Street, Downer Place and Galena Boulevard notifying pedestrians of the closure. The west span of the east bridge is all that remains of the structure, and demolition on final portion is scheduled to take place this week.

On the west bridge, pavement and sidewalk were removed last week. Construction crews also have been working on building support for the Aurora Business Center, and river protections should be installed in the water in the coming days. Demolition on the west bridge could start later this week or next week.

Vertical traffic barricades were placed back on Benton Street last week to remind motorists that traffic remains two-way between Broadway Avenue and River Street as part of the Downer Place bridge detour route.

02/24/12

Starting late this week, the traffic barriers separating east and westbound traffic on Benton Street in downtown Aurora were removed.

Traffic will remain two-way for the next nine months as part of the Downer Place bridge construction project detour route. Both century-old bridges spanning the Fox River will be torn down and replaced before being reopened to traffic in November.

Demolition work began on the east bridge this week. On the west bridge, pavement is expected to be removed next week and building supports will be installed. Throughout the project, the work on the east bridge will be slightly ahead of the west bridge.

At the February Aurora Downtown bridge update discussion, business owners were provided with a construction timeline:

  • Coffer damns will be installed after demolition and prior to April 1 to isolate the abutments and piers from the river.
  • Construction work in the river cannot take place between April 1 and June 15 due to fish spawning restrictions per the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
  • Pre-cast deck beams and fascia panels will be set by July; other concrete work takes place from August to October.
  • Hoyt Place at Downer Place will be closed between Aug. 1 and Aug. 21 to install a sanitary sewer and reconstruct the driveway.
  • Roadway work including curb and cutter, sidewalk removal and replacement, and pavement resurfacing of Downer Place between Broadway and River will occur in October.
  • Ornamental light poles will be installed, and the bridges will be sealed and stained by the end of October.
  • The bridges will be reopened to traffic in November 2012; the entire project should be completed in spring 2013.

02/20/12

The pavement has been removed from the Downer Place east bridge and barriers have been installed to protect the Fox River. Demolition of the east bridge is expected to begin this week.

Work on a building support for the structure at 31 W. Downer Place, the ABC Office Building, also is slated to begin this week. The support is needed before demolition of the west bridge can move forward.

02/08/12

The Downer Place bridges are scheduled to be closed for pedestrians starting Thursday, Feb. 9.

The bridges were shut down to vehicular traffic Feb. 6, but additional barricades will be installed tomorrow closing the areas to pedestrians. People walking in the downtown can still cross the Fox River on either Galena Boulevard or Benton Street.

Businesses on Downer Place remain open during construction, and parking is available in the Stolp Avenue parking garage.

02/06/12

The Downer Place bridge project in downtown Aurora is officially underway today as the bridges were closed to traffic for the next nine months.

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

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.

02/03/12

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.

01/31/12

The intersection of Downer Place and Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora is now a three-way stop with flashing red lights. With the Downer Place bridge project starting Feb. 6, the City will be holding a ceremony Feb. 3 to bid farewell to the oldest bridges in Aurora. Downer Place from Stolp Avenue to Hoyt Place will be closed from 4 to 5 p.m. to vehicular traffic for the event.

01/30/12

Work on temporary traffic signals and signs along Benton Street from Broadway to River is continuing and temporary striping has been completed on Benton. The north lane of Benton Street is now closed and will remain closed until February 6 when Downer Place closes, construction will begin on the bridges, and Benton will become a two-way thoroughfare.

01/27/12

Work on temporary traffic signals and signs along Benton Street from Broadway to River is continuing and preparations are underway to apply temporary striping on Benton. The application of the striping, which is weather dependent, has necessitated the closure of the north lane on Benton Street until February 6 which is when Downer Place will close, construction will begin on the bridges, and Benton will become a two-way thoroughfare.