Ribbon-Cutting for St. Charles’ Red Gate Bridge Is Saturday

Here’s a roundup of what to expect an who will be speaking as city opens its new bridge.

City officials, other local dignitaries and the public are expected to converge on St. Charles North High School this morning for the official opening of the Red Gate Bridge, culminating a project that first was envisioned as long as a century ago. This morning’s ribbon-cutting is for the opening of the bridge’s two vehicle lanes — work on the pedestrian and bicycle pathway won’t be completed until the spring. A release the city issued Friday states that the morning will begin with remarks at 10 a.m. at St. Charles North High School Commons Area, 225 Red Gate Road. The ribbon-cutting will follow at about 11 a.m. at the Red Gate Bridge (Route 31 at Red Gate Road) The city’s release states that remarks will be delivered by: State Rep. Harry…

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Dec. 15 Ribbon-Cutting Set for Red Gate Bridge

Brief remarks to be made in the Commons Area at St. Charles North High School prior to bridge opening.

Local dignitaries will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 15 to mark the opening of the $30 million Red Gate Bridge to vehicle traffic as scheduled. The opening will mark a milestone in15 months of construction and the near completion of an odyssey that began decades ago when a new bridge on the north end of St. Charles first was envisioned. City officials have said the bridge will not officially be completed until next spring, when work is finished on the pedestrian and bicycle pathway that will connect a bike trail near St. Charles North High School with the Fox River Trail near Pinelands Road and existing trails on either side of the Fox River. But the opening of the bridge to vehicle traffic is significant — it is both on schedule an …

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Donald Ramsell

12:19 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012

My concern is for the dog park. I have been assured that there will not any more interference with that park, but bicycles and animals do not mix...   more ›

Route 25 at Fox Glen Drive Reopens

The road reconstruction and widening continues, but the closure required by repairs to the Norton Creek culvert repair has ended.

It’s not exactly clear sailing — construction, after all, is ongoing — but Route 25 has reopened to traffic at Fox Glen Drive. The Illinois Department of Transportation closed the road just south of Fox Glen Drive on July 23 to repair a failing culvert at Norton Creek, with plans to complete it by Aug. 10. IDOT revised that later, announcing Aug. 16 it would extend the work, with scheduled completion during the week of Aug. 27. Later, the state agency clarified that the route would reopen the morning of Aug. 31. IDOT closed the road to repair a failing culvert at Norton Creek. Meanwhile, work continues to widen and reconstruct Route 25 as part of the $30 million Red Gate bridge project that will connect Red Gate Road on the west side of …

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St. Charles’ Red Gate Bridge Project Advancing

City officials hope to open newest St. Charles bridge by Dec. 15. Progress is continuing on schedule.

A project that’s been talked about for more than 80 years is marching toward completion after ground was broken a year ago, and city officials said a week ago that they believe construction is on pace for a Dec. 15 opening of the Red Gate Bridge over the Fox River. The project will connect Red Gate Road, which crosses Route 31 on the west side of the Fox River, with Route 25 on the east side, just south of Pinelands Road. The new two-lane bridge also will have a pedestrian walkway linking the Fox River Trail on the east side of the river with a bike trail from St. Charles North High School. According to the city’s Red Gate Bridge website, McHugh Construction has started work on the steel pedestrian bridge that will be part of the structure…

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St. Charles Nears Red Gate Bridge Bond Issue

City Council approved bond issue for bridge, ash borer mitigation a week ago. Officials say bond rate should be locked in by about Sept. 4,

The city of St. Charles is a week closer to locking in the bond rates for about $9.8 million in general obligation bonds whose proceeds will be used for the divisive Red Gate Bridge project, mitigation of the damage from the emerald ash borer and a separate refinancing of older bonds to save the city on interest payments. Finance Director Chris Minick told the City Council during its Aug. 20 meeting that the city should be able to lock in the interest rates on the bond issues by Sept. 4. During that meeting, the City Council Government Operations Committee advanced the package of bond issues, which Minick said totaled: Minick said the bonds for the Red Gate Bridge will be repaid with three revenue sources: The 5-cent per $100 of equalized …

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St. Charles Officials Get Glimpse of Red Gate Bridge Project

St. Charles officials toured the bridge, which will be the northernmost crossing of the Fox River in the city. The $30 million project is expected to open in December.

With Still a Year to Go, Additional Costs Hit Red Gate Bridge Project

The bridge project across the Fox River will remain under budget, so far, even with several change orders awaiting City Council approval.

Updated 11/30: Less than a year remains before the Thanksgiving 2012 expected completion date for the Red Gate Bridge project. After announcing earlier this month that the first phase of construction was expected to be completed by this past Thanksgiving, the City of St. Charles is looking tack more than $66,000 in additional costs before moving into the second phase of the $30-million bridge project. Follow St. Charles Patch on Facebook! The project change orders presented to a City Council committee Monday night include the following: City staff also are looking to get ahead of the second leg of construction, which will include the bulk of the main bridge work, and also are asking for $205,000 to build a temporary peninsula on the Fox …

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Brian Townsend

4:49 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanks, Nick. As usual, nice article. Just a couple of points of clarification: 1. Change orders are processed for items not included in the contract's original scope of work because they were not anticipated at the time of execution or were identified during the construction process. The 4 change orders listed are valid change orders and represent a very small percentage of the initial contract …   more ›

First Phase of Red Gate Bridge to be Complete by Thanksgiving

Two change order requests for the project will be presented at the City of St. Charles Government Services Committee Nov. 28.

The first phase of construction will be complete on the Red Gate Bridge by Thanksgiving, the City of St. Charles announced Thursdsay. Herlihy Mid-Continent, Inc., contractor for the first phase, has finished all site work, grading, and construction of the bridge over the Fox River Trail and final landscaping and restoration work is underway, according to the city. Two change order requests on the project will be presented at the city’s Nov. 28 Government Services Committee meeting for necessary work performed by Herlihy Mid-Continent, Inc. that was not anticipated during planning of the first phase. The city staff will present a change order for $82,000 related to increase piling lengths necessary for the bridge crossing the Fox River …

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On the Roads

Bridge Construction Closes Portion of Silver Glen Road

Gas prices hold steady for the week and the Red Gate Bridge web site adds a new feature to view project progress.

The Red Gate Bridge project website has added a webcam to view the bridge's progress. Here's a look at some ongoing construction projects that might affect your commute.  Construction Follow St. Charles Patch on Facebook! Gas Prices Gas prices held steady this week at $3.89 per gallon. Price information is provided by GasBuddy.com as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.

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Week in Review

Red Gate Bridge Project Begins, Other Stories Featured in St. Charles Patch Week in Review

Following are top stories and news highlights for Aug. 20-26.

'Unmatched' Cooperation Brought Together for Red Gate Bridge—St. Charles and other local officials tout the benefits of the bridge project at the Thursday morning groundbreaking. Colonial Cafe Wants to Add Beer and Wine to Menu—The more than 100-year-old company is looking for a new option for customers. Illinois Tollway Board Approves Toll Hike—Board approves 15-year, $12 billion capital plan funded by the first general toll increase since 1983. Biddle Advances in U.S. Amateur after 'Spectacular' Match—Winning two matches puts the St. Charles golfer in the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Championship.

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