Pratt Road Bridge Closure Scheduled to Begin April 9 for Full Replacement Project
SANDWICH, IL — The City of Sandwich, in coordination with the DeKalb County Highway Department and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), announces the scheduled closure of the Pratt Road Bridge over Somonauk Creek, beginning Monday, April 9, 2026.
The closure is required to facilitate a full replacement of the existing bridge structure. The existing structure will be removed and replaced with a new bridge designed to improve safety, increase load capacity, and improve hydraulics at the channel crossing.
Project Partners and Funding
This project is being made possible through State and Federal Bridge funding, and local funding from the City of Sandwich. The City has contracted with the following firms to complete the project:
• General Contractor: D Construction of Coal City, IL
• Design and Construction Engineering Services: Hampton, Lenzini, and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) of Elgin, IL
Official Detour Route
To allow for the completion of the project, Pratt Road will be closed to all through traffic at the bridge site (located approximately 0.11 miles east of Somonauk Road). A formal detour has been established utilizing Somonauk Road, Suydam Road, and Castle Street.
Residents living along Pratt Road will maintain local access to their properties, but they will not be able to cross the bridge structure once construction begins.
Project Scope & Timeline
The project includes full bridge removal and replacement, channel excavation, new HMA (Hot-Mix Asphalt) pavement, and approach guardrails. Construction is expected to continue through the summer, with a tentative reopening expected in August, with punch list work being completed throughout the month of August after the reopening of the bridge.
For further information and project updates, please visit the City of Sandwich website at https://www.sandwich.il.us/.