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The Village of Shorewood has announced that the Seil Road Bridge will continue to operate with a single lane, maintaining a 5-ton weight limit indefinitely. This decision follows the latest annual bridge inspection report from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), which found no further deterioration in the bridge beams since traffic was redirected to the middle of the bridge in May 2024.
Traffic heading eastbound remains prohibited on the bridge, and local residents are encouraged to use alternative routes. The Village will keep working with IDOT to monitor the condition of the bridge. "Your continued assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your patience," said village officials.
The Seil Road Bridge, built in the early 1980s, was identified as needing replacement back in 2019. Due to its age and condition, it undergoes annual inspections by licensed structural engineers. In May 2023, a weight restriction was placed on the bridge after signs of beam deterioration were noted. By May 2024, expanded deterioration led to reducing traffic to one lane.
The Village engaged Christopher B Burke Engineering for Phase 2 Engineering Design in June 2021. The designs for both Seil Road and Bridge Reconstruction Project are now complete. The project plans include constructing a new bridge with pedestrian access, storm sewers, streetlights, a mixed-use path, and changing Seil Road from two lanes to three lanes with two mini roundabouts.
To move forward with construction bids and start work on the project, negotiations with property owners near the site are ongoing. The process involves securing additional right-of-way along roads and parkways and obtaining temporary easements for construction purposes. Currently pursuing eminent domain could extend this process by up to two years before bidding begins.
Funding for these projects has been part of Shorewood's Capital Improvement Plan over five years, totaling $12 million for both road reconstruction and associated works. In 2020, Shorewood received a $4 million Surface Transportation Program Grant specifically for rebuilding the bridge.
