Joliet Township Reopens Brandon Road Bridge After Three-Year Closure
The 94-year-old drawbridge across the Des Plaines River reopened Monday morning, ending a hiatus that began in 2023.
By Leila Mansour ·
The Brandon Road drawbridge in Joliet Township reopened to traffic at 8:45 a.m. Monday, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced. The structure, which spans the Des Plaines River, had been closed since 2023 for extensive maintenance work.
IDOT officials stated that the $3.4 million project involved repairing the bridge deck, joints, and brakes. The agency also replaced all four motors, aerial cables, locks, and structural steel components. According to the department, these repairs address the aging infrastructure of the 94-year-old bridge.
Work on the site will continue over the coming months. IDOT warned that equipment testing will require frequent lifting and lowering of the bridge. Motorists were advised to expect delays and to use alternate routes where possible. Officials asked drivers to watch for flaggers, signs, and workers in active zones.
The repair effort included an upgrade to the bridge tender control system. This allows operators to manage the structure from a central location. The project is part of a broader initiative to update all six movable bridges in the region, including five located in downtown Joliet.
All six drawbridges in the Joliet area were constructed in the 1930s. The Brandon Road bridge is the first of these structures to reopen following a multi-year closure for repairs. IDOT noted that miscellaneous punch-list items remain to be completed on the structure.
