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Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail System Improvement Plan - What's New and Coming!
In 2003, DuPage County approved a plan which outlines future improvements it hopes to undertake over the next 7 years to enhance the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail throughout the County.
The plan outlines 20 projects totaling $6.65 million in improvements planned to the system working closely with intergovernmental partners such as our municipalities and park districts . Recently completed is an improved section of the path in Glen Ellyn near Montclair Avenue undertaken by the Village of Glen Ellyn as lead agency and a new bridge over te East Branch of the DuPage River on the border between Glen Ellyn and Lombard To date, 17 of the 20 projects are completed and three remaining projects are in the engineering phase with one going to construction this winter.
Work is currently underway to implement several of the other projects outlined in the Improvement Plan including:
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A new bicycle-pedestrian bridge along the Elgin Branch of the Illinois Prairie Path crossing of the EJ&E railroad in Wayne (planned for later 2009 construction)
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A new bicycle-pedestrian bridge along the Great Western Trail at Grace Street in Lombard (Village of Lombard lead agency; in engineering design Phase 1)
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Re-routing and improving the Great Western Trail west of Schmale Road in Carol Stream
In addition to the Trail System Improvement Plan, the DuPage County Division of Transportation is working to incorporate trail improvements into its roadway projects (see Bicycling on our roads for a copy of the Healthy Roads Policy and 2008 Amendment).
Work was completed on replacing aging drainage culverts and structures along the trail system. Approximately $2,415,000 of drainage work was completed along the trail system from 2006-2008 including the replaced the Illinois Prairie Path bridge crossing the West Branch of the DuPage River just east of Batavia Road in 2008.
Last but not least, local communities have been working hard to make trail improvements within their areas particularly in Lombard, Warrenville, Villa Park , Glen Ellyn and Wheaton. Recent projects included the path improvement by Glen Ellyn at Montclair and the Prairie Path as you enter the east side of downtown Glen Ellyn and completion of the trail improvements by Wheaton Park District ion the west side of Clocktower Commons Park in downtown Wheaton.
The implementation of these projects under the Trail System Improvement Plan by the DuPage County Division of Transportation and Division of Public Works, and our adjacent municipalities and park districts has resulted in an estimated $8,068,636 of improvements for the DuPage County Trail System constructed between 2001 and 2009.
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Within DuPage County, residents and visitors enjoy year-round use of a 92-mile recreational trail system managed by the DuPage County Division of Transportation. Approximately 40 miles of trails comprise the DuPage County section of the Illinois Prairie Path, which is located in the right-of-way of the former Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin Railway. Almost 12 miles long, the Great Western Trail is located within the right-of-way of the former Chicago and Great Western Railroad. The trails are surfaced with limestone screenings and average 10 feet in width. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders are all welcome on the trails.
