Concerns raised over Metra Milwaukee West line bridge

Concerns over an aging railraod bridge along Metra's Milwaukee District West line has officials sounding an alarm that the bridge needs to be replaced.

It's a bridge built around the time of President James A. Garfield's assassination in 1881. And at 133 years of age, Metra wants federal funding to help get a replacement.

The single track bridge is the biggest bottleneck on the Milwaukee West line that shuttles 6.8 million passengers annually between Chicago and the far northwestern suburbs.

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth made a visit to the bridge, declaring a request for $17 million in federal grant money to complete the $34 million project.

A suburban family who lost their parents to the collapse of another railroad also wants aging bridges to be addressed.

"Infrastructure spending is something the Lindner family of Glenview can support," Duckworth said. "Two years ago the parents of Rob and Matt Lindner were crushed when the tracks on an old Bridge in Glenview gave way in a summer heat wave - allowing a coal train to derail."

"It was an accident that might have been avoided with more robust infrastructure spending - a theme even President Obama highlighted yesterday in New York," Rob Lindner said.

Back in Elgin that message - to invest in infrastructure - has special meaning.

"You will change your mind when it impacts your family directly, I can say that for sure," said Matt Lindner.

Metra said replacing the bridge will increase train speeds in both directions, and will cause 36 hours of lost commuting time to be gained back by commuters.