Latest designs unveiled for new Route 178 bridge in Utica

If you like the style of the new Shippingsport Bridge in La Salle you’ll like look of a new bridge proposed for Route 178 south of Utica.

Engineers with the Illinois Department of Transportation Thursday shared tentative plans for a new bridge. Village President Gloria Alvarado says plans for the new bridge are beautiful and she’s excited it includes a bicycle and walking path. The path will span from the entrance to Starved Rock State Park to about the Village Hall.

The bridge will be about six feet higher than the old bridge, requiring the approaches to be build up and extended. The new bridge will be built just east of the old bridge. The old bridge will remain open during construction.

If you have comments are suggests, IDOT is accepting feedback until October 2. After that, engineers will move into the second phase of planning. That could take a year and a half to two years. The third phase would be construction.