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IDOT estimates 6–8 weeks to repair downtown Joliet drawbridge; city asks Coast Guard for temporary crossing extensions
Summary
The Illinois Department of Transportation told Joliet officials an electrical short disabled a motor that raises the downtown drawbridge; IDOT estimates repairs will take six to eight weeks and the city has asked IDOT to discuss temporary time adjustments with the U.S. Coast Guard to ease traffic impacts.
The City of Joliet was told by Illinois Department of Transportation representatives that an electrical short in a cabinet and motor disabled one of the two drive motors that raise the downtown drawbridge, and IDOT estimated repairs will likely take six to eight weeks.
City Manager Beth Beatty relayed the report to the City Council and said the city has asked IDOT to engage the U.S. Coast Guard about temporarily extending the periods when the bridge is not raised to let more vehicles cross while repairs continue. A staff member in public works described the cause as “an electrical cabinet, and a motor that shorted out” and warned that temporary fixes must avoid leaving the bridge stuck in a raised position.
The drawbridge is owned and maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation, and council members were repeatedly told that federal regulations administered by the U.S. Coast Guard restrict raising the bridge during two daily rush periods. Council staff identified those restricted periods as 7:30–8:30 a.m. and 4:15–5:15 p.m.; the city has asked IDOT to discuss short-term extensions with the Coast Guard to reduce vehicle congestion during the repairs.
City staff said IDOT and its contractors discussed options — including bringing a drive system from elsewhere — but emphasized the mechanical complexity of the structure. The city manager and public-works director asked residents to use the fixed windows of opportunity set by federal regulations to cross when possible and said staff and IDOT were pursuing multiple options to shorten the closure while avoiding further failures.
The city manager also reminded residents the bridge owner is IDOT and said the city is coordinating closely with IDOT and federal agencies on both technical and traffic-management responses. No formal council motion or vote was recorded on the matter during the meeting.
The council urged residents to plan for delays and said staff will provide updates on repair progress and any temporary changes to Coast Guard-controlled hours.
