HIGHWOOD, Illinois – State Senator Susan Garrett (D – Lake Forest) has been informed by the Illinois Department of Transportation that the bridge on Illinois Route 176 over Route 41 in Lake Bluff has been deemed to be in poor condition, resulting in a reduction in load-carrying capacity. IDOT proposes posting a weight limit of 15 tons on the bridge and rerouting truck traffic along other heavily traveled roads, including Green Bay Road and Waukegan Road, to avoid the bridge, until it can be repaired.

Senator Garrett has requested a meeting between IDOT and the municipalities that would be affected to discuss routes that will minimize the impact of the truck traffic on local residents. The state legislators who represent the affected areas, as well as the Village of Lake Bluff and the City of North Chicago, will be invited to participate in the discussion.

“The 15-ton weight limit will impact many kinds of trucks, not just semis,” said Senator Garrett. “Even a two-axle truck can weight too much to pass over the bridge. It’s important to deal with the safety and traffic flow aspects of diverting a large amount of truck traffic.”

In the long term, it is clear that the issue of reconfiguring the Route 41/Route 176 interchange needs to be resolved. In the interim, however, Senator Garrett will be working with IDOT to expedite the repair of the bridge so that the inconvenience to residents will be minimized.