Some lanes closed on downtown Naperville bridge after deterioration found in inspection

Washington Street Bridge carries roadway over DuPage River between Chicago and Aurora avenues

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Some lanes closed on Naperville bridge after deterioration found
City of Naperville officials closed some lanes on the Washington Street Bridge downtown after deterioration was found in an inspection.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- If you're going to travel through downtown Naperville, safety concerns could lead to traffic headaches on a busy road.

A recent inspection of the Washington Street Bridge, which carries the roadway over the DuPage River between Chicago and Aurora Avenues, showed major deterioration, the city said earlier this week.

In response, the city is closing a lane of traffic in each direction until the 40-year-old bridge can be replaced.

RELATED: 10 highly-traveled bridges in Cook, DuPage among thousands in IL deemed 'structurally deficient'

The closures start Thursday.

The bridge replacement project is expected to begin next spring. Preparations to replace the bridge have been ongoing for several years, the city said.

The inside eastbound lane on Aurora Avenue will also be converted into a left-turn-only lane between Webster and Main streets and closed between Main and Washington streets, and the outside southbound lane on Washington Street will be converted into a right-turn-only lane between Jackson and Chicago avenues.

City officials are asking drivers to use alternate routes if possible.