South Elgin Bridge Resurfacing to Cut Traffic to One Lane for Two Months Starting Monday
South Elgin's State Street bridge over the Fox River will be reduced to one lane starting Monday for a $686,900 resurfacing project expected to last through July.
Drivers crossing the Fox River in South Elgin should expect slower commutes starting Monday when a $686,900 bridge resurfacing project reduces the State Street bridge to a single lane.
The village of South Elgin announced the work will begin June 1 and is expected to run through the end of July, weather permitting. Temporary traffic signals will be installed at each end of the bridge to control the flow of vehicles during construction.
A bridge that has been delayed a year
The resurfacing was originally scheduled for summer 2025. Village officials pushed it back because simultaneous rebuilds on McLean Boulevard and the Route 20/Illinois 31 interchange would have created too much congestion for drivers.
"This project was originally planned for summer 2025, but the rebuilds of both McLean Boulevard and the Route 20/Illinois 31 interchange would've added more havoc than necessary. This summer, please have patience and consider using alternative routes," said Craig Pierce, the village's manager of communications and community engagement.
What the project involves
Martam Construction Inc. is the contractor for the job. The village selected latex-modified concrete for the bridge decking, a material officials say offers a projected lifespan of 25 years and resists corrosion from road salt.
"To minimize the need for frequent repairs and to keep the bridge fully functional and safe for as many years as possible, the contractor will use latex-modified concrete for the bridge decking," Pierce said. "It has a projected lifespan of 25 years and is considered nearly impermeable to road salt and other corrosive materials."
The affected stretch runs from the intersection of State and Center streets to State and Water streets.
How it affects drivers and pedestrians
Village officials warned of backups during peak travel times. Pierce advised drivers to consider alternative crossings over the Fox River, including:
- Stearns Road
- Red Gate Road
- U.S. 20
- Routes further north, depending on the destination
One side of the pedestrian crossing will remain open throughout the project. The walkway below each side of the bridge should also stay accessible every day once that day's construction ends, though it may close for a few days at a time.
Officials also urged people traveling to village center events such as concerts and cruise nights to consider parking and walking over the bridge or using the underpass instead of driving through the construction zone.
"The village recognizes this project will cause an inconvenience and delays, especially during peak driving periods," Pierce said.
The South Elgin village hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how many vehicles cross the bridge daily.