Bridges on Harmony Road, West Solon Road reopen after repairs

Two bridges, one on Harmony Road west of Marengo and the other on West Solon Road south of Richmond, recently reopened to traffic, officials with the McHenry County Division of Transportation announced.

The bridge on Harmony Road over Coon Creek closed to traffic Oct. 2 so that two deteriorated deck beams could be replaced, according to a news release.

Before the repairs, the bridge had a posted weight limit of 22 tons for single vehicles, 28 tons for those with three to four axles and 28 tons for those with five or more axles, but now greater weights can be handled, according to the release.

The work was awarded July 21 to Copenhaver Construction Inc., according to the release. The construction cost of $113,380.84 was covered by the county’s gas tax dollars and regional transportation authority funds.

The second bridge to recently undergo repairs is located on West Solon Road east of Route 31 in Richmond Township, according to the release and the county’s website. It had been closed since May 1 so that 15 deteriorated deck beams could be replaced.

The bridge now has been reopened with weight capacities of 18 tons for single vehicles and 25 tons for those with three or more axles.

The contract was awarded June 15 to Alliance Contractors Inc. A quarter of the $171,541.50 construction cost was paid for by Richmond Township using motor fuel tax dollars, and the rest was covered by the county using its motor fuel tax funding.

These bridges, along with box culvert repairs on Randall and Miller roads, complete the county’s bridge repair projects for the 2020 season, according to the release.