HILLCREST — The Village of Hillcrest is evaluating options for the Hemstock Road Bridge over the Kyte River after inspections revealed severe corrosion in the steel supports and cracks, forcing the bridge closure between Windmill Drive and South Queens Road. Officials are weighing whether to pursue federal funding for a full replacement, which would require extensive permitting, environmental reviews, and engineering costs, or to use local funds to complete the project more quickly. Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright, with the firm Baxter & Woodman, said construction costs are estimated between $500,000 and $1 million, with a proposed temporary repair potentially reopening the bridge by early summer.
Replacing the bridge would still need to happen, but the engineering costs could still cost the village more if they seek government funding.
“One is pursuing federal funds through IDOT. There is a lot of paperwork that goes along with that, permitting requirements, environmental assessments. The alternative is them using local funds to complete that replacement, which would potentially reduce those additional efforts,” said Wright.
She noted they hope to have detailed cost estimates for the board at the next meeting.