Tri-Cities' Bridges in Good Condition Overall
Part 3 of Series: On a scale of 1-10, most big bridges in the Tri-Cities rate a 6 or 7—with a range from 5 to 9.
The bridges in Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles all earn passing grades, according to a report by Transportation for America.
And that's an important footnote when examining the results of the report.
Whenever we analyze data, there's a human tendency as well as a journalistic tendency to focus on what's wrong and what needs to be fixed. In fact, that's part of the purpose of the report: to lay out an argument for government investment in infrastructure, as mentioned in President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address.
The Website asks people to sign up and tell Congress to start spending.
"America's transportation system is broken. Bridges are crumbling, commute times are longer than ever, and too few people have access to good options. It's past time to fix it," the website says.
But for the Tri-Cities, at least, the news isn't all bad. If you look at the screen shot of the interactive map provided by Transportation for America, you'll see, as the Beatles once said, a sea of green.
The green bridges indicate those that are in good condition. The red bridges indicate those that are "structurally deficient" because they received a rating of 4 or lower on one or more of three components: deck, superstructure and substructure.
Below are the ratings for the bridges in the Tri-Cities. The lowest score went to the bridge on Route 31 over Ferson Creek in St. Charles, which scored 5 across the board. The best-rated bridge was the Prairie Street Bridge, also in St. Charles, that scored three 9s.
Related:
- The president proposes a plan to “Fix It First” — how will Congress respond?
- Part 1: 16 Bridges Within 10 Miles of Geneva Rated 'Structurally Deficient'
- Part 2: St. Charles Route 64 Bridge Called 'Functionally Obsolete'
GENEVA
IL 38
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1992
- National bridge ID 000045201430099
- 17,900 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 7
- Superstructure: 7
- Substructure: 7
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 36 months
- Last inspection: October-2009
IL 25
- Crosses RR - UP
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1965
- National bridge ID 000045004610358
- 10,000 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 8
- Superstructure: 6
- Substructure: 7
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: June-2008
ST. CHARLES
PRAIRIE ST
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1993
- National bridge ID 000045685536649
- 509 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 9
- Superstructure: 9
- Substructure: 9
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 48 months
- Last inspection: May-2006
ILLINOIS STREET
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1958
- National bridge ID 000045685126719
- 1,900 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 7
- Superstructure: 7
- Substructure: 6
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: December-2007
IL 64
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Functionally obsolete
- Built 1997
- National bridge ID 000045201832261
- 36,100 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 8
- Superstructure: 8
- Substructure: 7
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: May-2009
x2ND AVENUE
- Crosses U.P.RR
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1986
- National bridge ID 000045685420443
- 209 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 7
- Superstructure: 7
- Substructure: 7
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 48 months
- Last inspection: December-200
3RD. AVENUE
- Crosses U.P.RR
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1987
- National bridge ID 000045685320445
- 209 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 7
- Superstructure: 7
- Substructure: 8
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 48 months
- Last inspection: December-2007
IL 31
- Crosses FERSON CREEK
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1916
- National bridge ID 000045001910316
- 13,800 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 5
- Superstructure: 5
- Substructure: 5
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: June-2009
BATAVIA
FABYAN PARKWAY
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1974
- National bridge ID 000045309701998
- 30,500 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 7
- Superstructure: 7
- Substructure: 7
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: April-2008
WILSON ST
- Crosses FOX RIVER
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 2007
- National bridge ID 000045605133916
- 18,600 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 8
- Superstructure: 8
- Substructure: 8
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: September-2009
IL 31
- Crosses MILL CREEK
- in Kane County
Good condition
- Built 1935
- National bridge ID 000045002010317
- 12,600 cars per day (avg.)
Ratings
- Deck: 9
- Superstructure: 9
- Substructure: 6
Inspections
- Inspection frequency: 24 months
- Last inspection: January-2009
Jacob Chally
11:45 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The problem is, in Illinois, IDOT has no money to construct ANYTHING, because the state is broke. They barely can maintain the roads as they are. If any major road project (i.e new high-speed highway) is built, it has to be built by the ISTHA. If you go on the IDOT website, you'll see how many projects are stuck at the Phase I "Preliminary Engineering" stage.
Meanwhile, our neighbors to the north are about to undertake a $1 billion+ reconstruction of I-39/90 from the state line to Madison and construct miles of bypasses, freeway's and other road construction projects.
Yes, we need LOTS more money for roads in Illinois, but we can't afford it right now. Were too much in debt!