Village manager warns of weeklong First Avenue closures for railroad bridge maintenance, urges detours and notes Metra tunnel work

Village Manager Tim Wyberg told the Village of Brookfield board that Burlington Northern (BNSF) will perform maintenance on the First Avenue bridge starting around Sept. 15 and continuing for approximately one week, creating lane closures and detours that will disrupt traffic between Ogden and 31st Street.

Wyberg said the project will close both northbound and southbound First Avenue between Ogden and 31st Street for a period described in the record as “Monday to Monday,” and that the village has asked BNSF to preserve emergency access for the South Hollywood neighborhood. He described detour routing westbound on Ogden to Mannheim Road and noted the village of Riverside had issued similar social-media notices.

"It's going to be very disruptive," Wyberg told the board and said the village will continue to push for mitigation and share updates via social media. He also said Chief Caribella (police) had received assurances that emergency access to South Hollywood would be maintained.

Wyberg additionally briefed the board on a separate, temporary closure of the north-side pedestrian entrance to the Congress Park Metra tunnel for a pedestrian-improvement project funded by a grant; signs and social-media notices have been posted and the village expects the closure to be brief while work proceeds.

The manager asked residents to use alternative routes where possible, and said police and fire would coordinate to keep residents safe. The board did not take formal action on the project during the meeting; Wyberg said staff will provide updates as they receive new information from the railroad.

Ending: The board heard the manager's reports as part of regular business and then voted on routine agenda items before adjourning at 7:02 p.m.