Construction in downtown Naperville has fallen months behind schedule and is expected to continue until June 2025.
Due to structural concerns, construction on the Washington Street Bridge in downtown Naperville began in early spring of 2023. The project has since fallen behind schedule and will no longer meet the contracted completion date of Nov. 1, 2024. In an email interview, Naperville’s Director of Transportation, Engineering and Development Bill Novak gave his insight on the causes of these delays.
“The main reason in my opinion is that the contractor has not staffed the project with the necessary resources from the start of construction to complete the project on time. We told him that over a year ago, but [he] refused to listen or make adjustments.” Novak said.
In addition to the bridge construction, over the summer, the city also began repaving the rest of Washington Street, expanding construction down four more blocks. According to Novak, the street resurfacing project is currently on schedule. They have finished the north side of downtown Naperville and are expected to complete the south side within the week. However, the bridge isn’t as far along in its progress and is only a little over halfway complete. The ongoing construction has frustrated many, as the traffic disruptions from the bridge work have caused significant issues for commuters and local businesses, particularly near Washington Street. Mike Kyritsi, owner of nearby restaurant Maria’s Gyro, shares how the construction has impacted small businesses in downtown Naperville.
“It’s very difficult for people to get down here and pick up their food or just parking….We tried online, we tried DoorDash, Uber…our own website too. It’s working, but not like it used to, it’s really impacting our business, especially small businesses…I talked to other owners, everybody’s in the same boat,” Kyritsi said.
The construction on Washington Street has greatly affected commuters, causing delays and increased congestion. With the bridge reduced to one lane in each direction, compared to the original two, and resurfacing projects extending down several blocks, traffic flow has slowed, leading to longer travel times. Some drivers have had to adjust their routes to accommodate the construction. Naperville North High School junior Jenna Bhatt explained how the construction has impacted her daily commute to school.
“Cutting across Washington used to be my quickest way to and from school, because of the traffic, I had to change my route, which added an extra six or seven minutes to my drive,” Bhatt said.
In addition to traffic delays, pedestrians also have experienced challenges navigating the downtown area. NNHS sophomore Lauren Pera described the difficulties she’s encountered.
“Just walking around downtown Naperville this summer was difficult, the sidewalks would get so crowded, especially when the road was being repaved,” Pera said.
Both commuters and businesses have grown tired of the disruptions to their daily routines. While the city maintains that the improvements will ultimately benefit the community, many are anxious for the work to be completed. NNHS junior Deirdre O’Moore shared her feelings about the ongoing construction.
“It just feels like they have been working on this forever. I don’t want to have to deal with it anymore. It’s annoying, and I want it to be done,” O’Moore said.
