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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 2008-2009)
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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 last phase of this work is occurring along the Geneva Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path in West Chicago. Approximately $2,415,000 of drainage work was completed along the trail system from 2006-2008 including the recently replaced the Illinois Prairie Path bridge crossing the West Branch of the DuPage River just east of Batavia Road.
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 , Village of Glen Ellyn and City of Wheaton. Glen Ellyn is currently completing a project with the County at Montclair and the Prairie Path as you enter the east side of downtown Glen Ellyn.
The implementation of these projects under the Trail System Improvement Plan, DuPage County Division of Transportation and Division of Public Works, and our tadjacent municipalities and park districts has resulted in an estimated $7,468,636 of improvements for the DuPage County Trail System constructed between 2001 and 2008.
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Within DuPage County, residents and visitors enjoy year-round use of a 95-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.
