Board directs staff to bid Irving Park Road pedestrian bridge despite $3M+ funding gap

Trustees directed staff to proceed to bid (I DOT letting) on the Irving Park Road Pedestrian Bridge after staff reported a material increase in the village’s estimated share of project cost.

Director Kristen Mail told the board final design and subsurface utility work identified the DuPage Water Commission main in a location that raised the project estimate by roughly $2.7–$3.4 million compared with the original grant-funded estimate. The village previously secured a $3 million ITEP grant (the maximum available) but still faces an estimated shortfall. Mail and staff said the village could finance its share from capital project fund balance (including recent home-rule sales tax receipts) and that actual invoicing by IDOT may be phased over multiple years, reducing near-term cash pressure.

Tom (finance) told trustees unallocated home-rule sales tax receipts and capital fund balances exist and that the village would not necessarily be billed the full amount in the current fiscal quarter because IDOT’s payment schedule and project closeout could lag construction by a year or more.

After discussion about timing, project scope, grant limits and continued pursuit of additional grants and legislative advocacy, trustees voted to move forward with the bidding process and authorized staff to proceed with the letting while continuing to attempt outside funding and monitor final bids for potential impacts to the capital fund.

The board emphasized continuing efforts to coordinate with IDOT and with legislators where possible but recognized that grant rules limit immediate remedies.