Bridges going out, but Downer Place shops to keep running
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com January 28, 2012 10:34PM
Nicole Mullins (left) and Nikki Brown, co-founders of the non-profit L.I.F.T. Aurora, work from a corner table in the River's Edge Cafe, which offers views of the Fox River and one of the Downer Place bridges. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
Last Blast
on the Bridge
The city will host a Bridge Blast event to celebrate bridge demolition at 4 p.m. Friday on Downer Place.
After the ceremony, refreshments will be served at River’s Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer Place.
Article Extras
Updated: January 29, 2012 2:33AM
AURORA — Doing business on Downer Place during bridge construction won’t be easy, but downtown Aurora business owners say they’re prepared to weather the nine-month project.
Construction to replace the Downer Place bridges that span the Fox River will kick off Feb. 6.
The key to preparing for the demolition work has been communication, both city staff and business owners said.
City Chief of Community Services Dan Barriero said engineers and representatives from H.R. Green have visited all businesses on Downer between Broadway and River to explain the project. H.R. Green is the contractor for the project.
Beth Standish, who has operated River’s Edge Cafe at 18 W. Downer Place with her husband for about a year, said city staff, engineers and their downtown regulars have been very supportive in anticipation of the bridge construction.
“One of the engineers gave me their personal card. The mayor’s in here on a regular basis,” Standish said.
Ken Schroth, Aurora director of public works, said the city has been in communication with downtown groups about the impending bridge work since 2007.
The bridges, completed in 1909, have exceeded their useful life and have been deemed structurally deficient by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The bridges are tentatively expected to reopen to traffic in November.
“It’s typically a five-year process from planning stages to the start of construction,” Schroth said.
The city considered reconstructing one bridge at a time, but after input from downtown business owners, Schroth said all parties involved decided to reconstruct both bridges at once.
Standish said her faithful clientele has made it clear that they’ll make the extra trek from the Stolp Avenue parking deck to visit the cafe.
“Downtown Aurora is the most awesome group of people I’ve ever met,” she said. “I’ve never met a more unified group of people.”
John Galles, owner of John-Os Main Surplus at 65 E. Downer Place across from City Hall, said he’s weathered a lot since opening his business in 1947. He’ll get through the bridge construction, too, he said.
“I’ll survive,” Galles said. “It’s inevitable — things are going to change. I’ve survived bridges coming down, sidewalks taken out, depressions.”
But Galles said he’s been reminding patrons that the store will be open during bridge construction, too.
“We’re optimistic. We just don’t want people to forget us,” Galles said.
Randy Nickels, president of Aurora Finance Corp. at 24 E. Downer Place, said he’s fortunate that his business is a destination. The business has been downtown since 1953.
“We’re a family-owned business. If you’re coming here, you’re coming for a reason,” he said.
Nickels said he is concerned the bridge construction could take a toll on his business, but he’s been spreading the word about the new parking arrangement planned for the construction period.
“It will make it a lot harder for customers to get here,” Nickels said. “But it has to be done. We don’t want the bridge to fall in the river.”
Barriero said the city has developed a communication plan to keep business owners and residents informed during the Downer bridge construction.
In addition to newsletter updates and news releases, the city will distribute 5,000 brochures to downtown residents and businesses who likely use the street, Barriero said. The fliers will be in both English and Spanish.
City staff also made presentations about the bridge construction at Downtown Aurora meetings in December and January. Additional updates will be given on the third Thursday of the month at River’s Edge Cafe.
But one business owner, Ruben Berrios of Big Boss, a barber shop at 27 S. Stolp Ave., said city staff had not visited his business yet to discuss the bridge project. He’s rented space there for two years.
“I actually heard about the bridge work from a family member. I had no idea,” Berrios said. “But I’m pretty sure (patrons) will find their way around.”
Detour and parking
During construction, traffic will be detoured south down Broadway to Benton Street, which will be designated a two-way road between Broadway and River Street throughout the construction period. Motorists can head west on Benton, north on River and then continue west on Downer to complete the detour.
Schroth said construction barricades will begin at Downer Place and Water Street,
Galles said he was most concerned that a construction staging area downtown could cause traffic tie-ups, but Schroth said that the staging area will be done off-site near Route 31.
Although signs at a Shodeen property on Downer urged contractors to contact Shodeen about using the property for staging, Schroth said he is not aware of any contractors conducting staging downtown.
During construction, patrons of impacted business on Stolp Island — which includes Downer Place businesses and other commercial properties on Stolp Avenue between Galena Boulevard and Benton Street — can use the Stolp Avenue parking deck at Stolp and Downer. Patron parking for up to an hour will be free.
Additional signs will direct downtown patrons to parking areas.
Following construction completion, Barriero said, the city plans to host a bridge rededication to re-create a photo from the 1909 bridge dedication.
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