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Joliet city manager details City Square progress; IDOT schedules Cass Street bridge rehabilitation into 2026–27
Summary
City staff told the City Council on Sept. 2 that City Square and Chicago Street Corridor construction is advancing and that the Illinois Department of Transportation will close Cass Street Bridge for a $22.8 million rehabilitation expected to last into late 2026 or early 2027.
City staff provided a construction and infrastructure update during the Sept. 2 council meeting, reporting progress on the Chicago Street Corridor and City Square work and longer-term state bridge projects.
Work in the City Square and Chicago Street Corridor includes installation of concrete streetscape features in front of the library, ComEd preparations for a new transformer on Ottawa Street to power City Square improvements, topsoil placement in planter areas, sidewalk installation along Chicago Street and grading for the park access road. Staff said electrical conduit and lighting installation would continue and that curb and brick subbase work is scheduled in the coming week.
Downtown parking changes are in effect: two‑hour parking restrictions along Chicago Street between Jefferson and Cass began the day after Labor Day; staff said the first weeks would include reminders followed by citations after the initial period.
On regional infrastructure, staff reported that the Ruby Street Bridge — owned and maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) — is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Cass Street Bridge is slated to close on Sept. 10 for an extensive rehabilitation work IDOT has budgeted at $22,800,000; staff said that Cass Street is not expected to reopen until late 2026 or early 2027. The scope described by staff includes deck and approach repairs, expansion‑joint and structural steel replacement, electrical and mechanical upgrades, and construction of ADA‑compliant sidewalk ramps.
Council members asked about paint color and long‑term aesthetics for bridges; staff said they had discussed color options with IDOT but did not yet have a final decision. A council member also said he had asked IDOT whether Jefferson Street could be converted to two‑way traffic during bridge closures; staff reported they had reached out to IDOT for a definitive answer but cautioned geometry, signal configuration and roadway network constraints could make conversion challenging.
Staff said they will continue to provide updates as work progresses and as IDOT schedules evolve.
