An abandoned Illinois Railway bridge just south of downtown Rockford will get new life as a bicycle/pedestrian path. The repurposed bridge will connect a planned hotel development with the indoor sports complex set for the former Ingersoll Building, a plan championed by State Senator Steve Stadelman.

"This plan is yet another step in making downtown Rockford a more vibrant place to live and work," said Stadelman, the vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "By adding this important piece of infrastructure, residents and visitors alike will see an immediate benefit."

The cost of the bridge refurbishment is about $925,000 and is funded by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, a state program that uses federal money for such projects. The bridge also is part of a longer-term plan to further increase bicycle connectivity in the Rockford area. City engineer Matthew Vitner says the bridge also will connect with bicycle paths from the across the river to Davis Park as well as eventually becoming part of the Grand Illinois Trail.

Construction on the bridge is expected to begin this summer and finish by the end of the year.