While all state and local construction projects were halted by the Chicago Laborers District Council and Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers recent strike, the City is working with construction contractors to ensure completion of scheduled Elgin projects by the end of 2010.
"We can't simply add the three weeks to the end of our construction year because of the poor weather conditions normally encountered in November and December," said City Engineer Joe Evers. "Generally our contracts seek to end construction by the end of October. After that the weather is a roll of the dice."
The City is currently considering how to complete most construction projects before the year's end. Consideration is being given to project specifications that may be compromised if the City allows the extension of contractual deadlines. Other considerations include the budgetary impact of delaying portions of projects until next year or reducing the size of project work. There are also weather sensitive projects and normal project delays because of inclement weather that must be considered.
"The City does not want to be paving or placing concrete in November when there is the likelihood of rain and cold temperatures," said Evers. "Each project must be considered individually based upon the type of work each project contains. There is no universal response to how the strike has impacted all projects."
One of the more highly visible projects is the Highland Ave. Sewer Separation Project, which will be completed in sections. The first section involves the east leg of the intersection at Highland Ave. and State St. which will be opened by Aug. 15. This means that motorists traveling westbound on Highland from the downtown area will be able to access State St. (Rt. 31) and head north or south. Motorists will not be able to travel west on Highland Ave. beyond State St. The west leg of Highland Ave. will reopen by Sept. 4.
The second section involves the completion of the Sewer Separation Project, which will also be completed by Sept. 4.
The delay in the sewer separation project will also delay the Highland Ave. Street Rehabilitation Project which was to follow the sewer installation. The street rehabilitation project is expected to be delayed until Sept. 30, however, it could be delayed until spring 2011.
Tentative completion dates of various projects include:
Project Tentative Completion Date
East leg of Highland Ave. Intersection Aug. 15, 2010
West leg of Highland Ave. Intersection Sept. 4, 2010
Highland Ave. Sewer Separation Sept. 4, 2010
Highland Ave. Street Reconstruction Sept. 30 2010
CBD Streetscape and Underground Work Nov. 19, 2010
Spring St. Street Rehabilitation Oct. 4, 2010
Park/Gifford Street Rehabilitation Sept. 30, 2010
2010 Neighborhood Resurfacing Oct. 30, 2010
Randall Ridge (Begins Monday, July 26)
NW Quadrant (Begins Monday, July 26)
Highland and Heine (Begins Monday, July 26)
Other Projects…
1.Il Rt. 19 will be closed just east of Shales Parkway in Elgin from July 26 through Aug. 23 as the Illinois Department of Transportation works to repair the bridge at the EJ& E Railroad.
2.Damisch Road is closed between Big Timber road and Highland Ave. as Kane County construction crews begin the Damisch Road Bridge Reconstruction project. Work began on July 21 and is expected to take 60 working days.
3.Nicor Gas Main replacement will take place at Hiawatha from Elma to Ford Ave. and Stewart Ave., Parkway Ave, Dakota Dr., Elma Ave., First St., Ford Ave. and Fort Ct.