Historic bridge will be removed for refurbishing, closing access to Eagle Lake
(June 7, 2022) — The historic bridge that provides access to Eagle Lake at Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in Downers Grove will close for repairs beginning Wednesday, June 8.
Visitors will not be able to access the Eagle Lake Trail or Eagle Lake until the bridge is reinstalled near the end of the year.
While crews work to remove the 1870s bridge over the East Branch DuPage River, Hidden Lake’s south parking lot and a section of the Round Meadow Lake Trail will be closed (see map below), said District civil engineer Chris Welch. The north parking lot, including the picnic shelter and restrooms, will remain open as will access to the Loop Trail and Round Meadow Lake.
In September the contractor will return and again close the south parking lot and a section of the Round Meadow Lake Trail, this time to remove the 38-year-old prefabricated bridge on the southeast side of Round Meadow Lake and replace the four concrete bridge abutments. The bridge will be replaced with a standard 14-foot-wide streel truss bridge.
Both bridges and all trails will likely reopen near the end of the year, Welch said.
The estimated cost of construction is $800,000. Both bridges are certified projects on the District’s master plan and will be funded out of the District’s construction and development fund.
The historic wrought-iron bowstring pony truss bridge will go to Michigan for refurbishing, Welch said. It will cost $20,000 to $30,000 more to restore the bridge than replace it, but the bridge will last another 100 years. A new bridge would last about 40 years. Read more about the history of the pony truss bridge in this Hidden History blog.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 6.2 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, six education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok pages.
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