Kane County Reporter

Aurora residents now can use the Sheffer Road Bridge, which opened last weekend, two weeks earlier than planned after a reconstruction.

The city marked milestone with the completion of the bridge, which was the 10th bridge reconstructed in the region over the past decade.

The city has been working to bring aging infrastructure up to date as part of a continuing initiative to make city roads safer.

“One of my earliest priorities as mayor was to increase the safety and long-term capacity of our road and bridge infrastructure, and this weekend, we completed our tenth bridge in 10 years,” Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said. “On average, only 20 percent of the cost of these improvements was paid for using local funds -- the remainder was funded through federal programs, which are here today, but could be gone tomorrow.”

The reopening of the bridge was celebrated by First Ward Alderman Tina Bohman, construction crews, city officials and area residents with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Come on by and see the good work that the City of Aurora is doing," Bohman said during the ceremony.  Bohman was the first to drive across the newly constructed bridge, just before the barricades were removed to open the road to the public.

Plans to reconstruct the Sheffer Road Bridge began in 2012, nearly a century after the 26-foot-wide bridge was originally built. Work started in April this year with the removal of the original bridge. The new bridge has a 40-foot deck beam that has more shoulder room, in addition to a new sewer and water main.

“Bridges may not seem like the most exciting part of governing a community, but when it comes to building a city that works for both residents and business, our infrastructure is what paves the way for growth and prosperity,” Weisner said.

The Sheffer Road Bridge Project was funded 80 percent by Federal Highway Funds, with the remaining 20 percent coming from local fuel  taxes. The bridge spans Indian Creek just east of Farnsworth Avenue and was originally built in 1933.