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Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail System Improvement Plan - What's New and Coming!
In 2003, DuPage County approved a plan which outlines future improvements it hopes to undertake over the next 6 years to enhance the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail throughout the County.
The plan outlines 20 projects totaling $6.65 million in improvements planned to the system working closely with intergovernmental partners such as our municipalities and park districts . Recently completed were pedestrian connections that will improve accessibility to the Great Western Trail. These new sidewalk projects are located along Main Street Glen Ellyn, Gary Avenue, Bloomingdale Road and Swift Road in Glen Ellyn (screened path), Carol Stream and Glendale Heights. To date, 15 of the 20 projects are completed and the five remaining projects are in the engineering phase.
Work is currently underway to implement several of the other projects outlined in the Improvement Plan including:
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A new bicycle-pedestrian bridge along the Elgin Branch of the Illinois Prairie Path crossing of the EJ&E railroad in Wayne (in engineering design and planned for 2009 construction)
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A new bicycle-pedestrian bridge along the Great Western Trail at Grace Street in Lombard (Village of Lombard lead agency; in engineering design Phase 1)
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A new bicycle-pedestrian bridge to replace the existing one along the Illinois Prairie Path at the East Branch of the DuPage River in Glen Ellyn (in engineering design with planned construction in 2008)
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Re-routing and improving the Great Western Trail west of Schmale Road in Carol Stream
In addition to the Trail System Improvement Plan, the DuPage County Division of Transportation is working to incorporate trail improvements into its roadway projects. One example is the $1,000,000 bicycle-pedestrian bridge for the Illinois Prairie Path crossing Ferry Road in Aurora-Naperville.
Work is also continuing to replace aging drainage culverts and structures along the trail system. The latest phase of this work is occurring along the Aurora Branch of the Illinois Prairie Path in Wheaton, Warrenville and West Chicago with approximately $1,023,000 of work completed in 2006-2008. This work also includes the recently replaced the Illinois Prairie Path bridge crossing the West Branch of the DuPage River just east of Batavia Road. Construction is nearing completion on these drainage culvert projects.
Last but not least, local communities have been working hard to make trail improvements within their areas particularly the Village of Lombard, City of Warrenville, Village of Villa Park and City of Wheaton. Lombard is currently seeking grant funding to add lighting along the Great Western Trail.
The implementation of these projects, completed or currently under construction, by the County and our intergovernmental partners (municipalities and park districts) resulted in an estimated $3,423,000 of improvements for the DuPage County Trail System constructed between 2001 and 2006.
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Within DuPage County, residents and visitors enjoy year-round use of a 52-mile recreational trail system managed by the DuPage County Division of Transportation. Approximately 40 miles of trails comprise the DuPage County section of the Illinois Prairie Path, which is located in the right-of-way of the former Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin Railway. Almost 12 miles long, the Great Western Trail is located within the right-of-way of the former Chicago and Great Western Railroad. The trails are surfaced with limestone screenings and average 10 feet in width. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders are all welcome on the trails.
