Community Corner
Jefferson Street Bridge Closed Indefinitely, IDOT Says
An IDOT spokeswoman said the maintenance work has been delayed because of trouble replacing parts in the old bridge.
The Illinois Department of Transportation initially said the Jefferson Street Bridge over the Des Plaines River into downtown Joliet would reopen Oct. 18. Then it was to be Oct. 24.
Now, they're not willing to commit to any date at all as work replacing parts in the old bridge proves more difficult than originally anticipated, IDOT spokeswoman Jae Miller said.
"We've had trouble removing old parts," Miller said. "Some had to be cut off, and we're waiting for new ones to be tested before they can be installed."
IDOT periodically does maintenance work on the river's mechanical lift bridges, which require a lot of attention because of their age and because barges are routinely striking the spans as they pass under them.
Tests are under way off site on the new parts that are needed, and they'll be tested again once they're installed, Miller said. How long that will take is not known, she said.
"It could be a short time," she said. "We're just not sure."
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