Sangamon Sun

State Representative Wayne Rosenthal and State Senator Steve McClure have successfully passed legislation through the General Assembly to address the issue of repairing or replacing historic bridges that are still in use. The new law aims to balance historical preservation with public safety concerns.

“Preserving historic places is important for educational and tourism purposes, but when the historic place is a bridge that is still part of an important travel route for motorists and farmers, safety needs to be the first concern,” said Senator McClure. “This legislation will provide a pathway, when necessary, to allow repairs or replacements for historic bridges to maintain safety for people who need to cross them.”

Senate Bill 3622, filed by McClure in the Senate and sponsored by Rosenthal in the House, permits the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council to recommend removing a bridge from the National Register of Historic Places under specific conditions. These conditions include if the bridge is less than 22 feet wide with a banister at least 18 inches tall, crosses a township road, and is slated for renovation or rebuilding.

“While I’m an advocate for preserving the history of historic structures across Illinois, this legislation will allow townships to request the removal of 100-year-old bridges that interfere with public safety,” said Rep. Rosenthal. “Historic bridges are structurally sound, but they were not designed to accommodate two-way traffic and large equipment. Repairing or removing specific bridges to improve the safety of residents is the overall objective of this legislation.”

The initiative was prompted by Montgomery County Board Member Kenneth Folkerts due to issues with a bridge on the Christian and Montgomery County lines.

“It’s important to be able to do this because often times farmers have to go around many of the bridges because the bannisters are so high; modern machinery won’t fit through them,” said Folkerts.

SB3622 has passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits Governor's signature.