Geneva aldermen recommend project to replace State Street bridge railings

GENEVA – With the steel and concrete railings over the river on Geneva’s State Street Bridge being nearly 30 years old, Geneva aldermen recommended approval March 7 of a contract to remove and replace them and to widen the sidewalk.

The contract is for $143,870 to be paid to Bollinger Lach Associates of Itasca. The contract covers design, specifications, permitting and construction management.

Aldermen acting as the Committee of the Whole unanimously recommended approval of the contract. The City Council will take final action on the contract.

Bollinger will develop preliminary design plans to include replacement of the outer steel railing over both sides of the bridge, adjacent retaining walls and the southeast staircase, memos show.

Staff expects the work will be spread over fiscal 2022 and 2023 with construction costs to be included in fiscal 2024, City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said.

“In December 2021, the city requested engineering proposals for the replacement of the State Street Bridge railings,” Dawkins said. “This RFP included evaluating the various bridge railing products that meet IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) standards, obtaining IDOT approvals, preparing design and bid specs and construction management.”

Five consultants responded and staff determined the consulting team of Bollinger Lach Associates and Ames Engineering as sub-consultant would provide the best results, Dawkins said.

The railing removal and replacement requires eight months of IDOT and Army Corps of Engineers review for permitting at a cost of nearly $99,000 with a construction cost of $925,000, according to the agenda memo.

The sidewalk widening includes a 16-month structural review by IDOT and the Army Corps of Engineers with an estimated construction cost of $1.3 million, based on a high-end railing option, but officials could decide on a lower-cost railing, according to the agenda memo.

Bollinger Lach provided two options, the second with the sidewalk widening, which staff recommended, Dawkins said.

“This supports the city’s strategic plan, the bike plan and enhances our ADA (Americans with Disabilities) access,” Dawkins said.

Assistant Director of Public Works and City Engineer Brian Schiber said IDOT would be more concerned with the traffic than the aesthetics of the railings.

“That’s why we are seeking a consultant to help us weed out all the various items that are on the market,” Schiber said. “We expect them to come to us with several different price point railings that meet IDOT standards and we can pick and choose which ones we are attracted to.”

Third Ward Alderman Becky Hruby asked about the possibility of lights on the railings.

Schiber said illuminated railings would be a more expensive option.

“That would be beautiful if that’s a possibility,” Hruby said.

Second Ward Alderman Bradley Kosirog said the project would be a great connection between the city’s east and west side.

“I’m pretty excited about this,” Kosirog said.