Rockford to replace 100-year-old bridge near Constance Lane Elementary

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A community fundraising effort to keep school children safe has paid off with the award of $1 million to help replace an 8th Avenue bridge near Constance Lane Elementary.

The 100-year-old bridge needs repairs and has been deemed unsafe to cross.

Congressman Eric Sorenson (D) presented a check to the city on Monday, at a press conference attended by Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Rockford Public School District Superintendent Ehren Jarrett.

Constance Lane Principal Brian Doering said, “We’re constantly both – systematically – working with the district and the city and sharing concerns. But then also just kind of working more at a grassroots level with the families in our neighborhoods. Because they all want the children to succeed, we’re all here together because we care about these kids. And we really want everybody’s kids to be successful.”

Sorensen said engineering studies for a new bridge were already complete, and hoped that construction could begin early next year.

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