The Flossmoor board of trustees approved a contract at the Sept. 15 village board meeting with Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers for engineering work on the Dartmouth Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Streambank Stabilization project. 

The bridge, which was built more than 40 years ago, needs to be replaced because of its severe deterioration, according to Public Works Director John Brunke. 

“It’s in pretty rough shape,” he said.

Baxter & Woodman helped the village win an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 Grant of $111,600 to go towards the stream bank stabilization portion of the project. 

Along with the grant, state Sen. Napoleon Harris arranged for a state legislative set-aside of $250,000 for infrastructure that could be used for the project, Brunke said. The village is awaiting paperwork for it. 

The FY2026 budget for the design engineering and construction of the project is $690,800.

The budget for Baxter & Woodman’s engineering work is to not exceed $106,186. 

Streambank restoration design is expected to cost $30,000, bridge and path design will be $71,186, and $5,000 for a geotechnical subconsultant. 

Mayor Michelle Nelson gave the back story to the bridge. The idea for it came from resident Dr. Alan Roman, a former member Flossmoor Zoning Board of Appeals who lived in the “Ivies” neighborhood, an area in southeast Flossmoor where Dixie Highway and Vollmer Road meet. The streets are named after Ivy League universities. 

Prior to the construction of the bridge, it was harder for runners, walkers and cyclists to reach downtown Flossmoor, so Roman petitioned to have a bridge installed. 

“It’s used by folks not only in Flossmoor but also from surrounding communities like Chicago Heights as a way to get to our train station, as way to get to our schools and for recreation,” Nelson said. “It’s become a vital part of our community.”