Aline Shotts Bridge opening pushed back by record snowfall

The Aline Shotts Bridge opening date has been pushed back by roughly a week due to last week’s heavy snowfall. 

Galesburg Director of Planning and Public Works Wayne Carl had hopes the bridge on Farnham Street would be open by now but City Engineer Aaron Gavin says look for it to available to traffic by Dec. 17, a week from Monday.

The National Weather Service reports 11.5 inches of snow fell on Galesburg in a 24-hour period, breaking a record for Galesburg in November.

Gavin tells WGIL contractors had to take about a week off while snow around the construction site was being cleaned up.

He says they still have a wall to pour on the bridge and will also install fencing and railing.

“They expect to pour the wall on the bridge next week and then and they’ll install the railing the following week and then that’s when they would be able to open it for traffic,” Gavin says.

The contractor will return next year to do mostly landscaping and finish up sidewalks.

Gavin says the city isn’t planning a dedication ceremony but have made signs that will put up, designating it the Aleine Shotts Bridge.

Galesburg City Council voted 5-1 last month to name the bridge after the city’s first alderwoman who also lobbied the state to replace the wooden Farnham Street Bridge back in the 1970’s.

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