City of Naperville

Washington Street Bridge and Streetscape

A Vital Piece of Infrastructure

The City of Naperville enjoys a thriving downtown with a historic character that is beloved by its residents, featuring retail stores and restaurants as well as many local businesses. One of the City’s most vital downtown infrastructure components is the Washington Street Bridge.

A New Bridge and Streetscape

Civiltech provided Phase III Construction Engineering services on this meaningful project which involved replacing the deteriorating existing bridge structure with a new post-tension bridge enhancing both the safety and aesthetics of this critical connection. The project also involved a continuation of the new Naperville streetscape standards previously designed by Civiltech.

Critical Connectivity

The bridge is heavily traveled by vehicles and provides vital pedestrian connectivity to important community functions including Fredenhagen Park, North Central College, and the downtown. Additionally, the bridge provides access to the popular Riverwalk, which runs along the south side of the DuPage River. A low flow walkway connects the Riverwalk underneath the improved bridge.

Additional Infrastructure Upgrades

In addition to the bridge and streetscape improvements, the project included other significant infrastructure upgrades, including intersection improvements at Aurora Avenue and Washington Street and new utility infrastructure—specifically, a 12-inch water main, sanitary siphon, and electrical duct bank—all crossing under the river.

Installing a Post-Tensioned Bridge Structure

One of the most intricate aspects of this project was ensuring the proper installation of the post-tensioned concrete slab structure. Our team worked diligently to verify the duct profiles and ensure compliance with clearance requirements during the initial stages of installation. It was critical that the post-tensioning ducts and surrounding reinforcing steel were securely tied and positioned before and during the concrete placement process. Our engineers worked hand-in-hand with the contractor’s crew to ensure that stress tolerances were met, and that the tendons were elongated to exact specifications.

High-Level Aesthetics

The project involved the installation of high-level aesthetic treatments. The new bridge is beautiful and the new Naperville streetscape standards are carried throughout the project for a cohesive design. The bridge design aesthetics incorporating a faux stone cladding, aligns with the City’s historic character, matches the City’s famous riverwalk finishes, and blends with the aesthetics of other downtown facilities. Additional stone features were carved out of limestone on site by masons. The project truly shows that an infrastructure project can be aesthetically significant and enhance a community’s image.