Politics & Government
Pine Street Reconstruction Starting Today
The largest village road project this summer is reconstructing Pine Street, which begins June 7, and will be closed to through traffic.
Pine Street is closed to through traffic as its reconstruction is set to begin Thursday, June 7.
Underground storm sewer work has been done on the street, which is just west of Cedar Road in New Lenox, for the past couple of days. Now the major work begins:
- removal and replacement of the stone base of the road and new asphalt surface;
- install an 18-inch concrete band adjacent to the asphalt;
- create street parking on the west side of the street;
- install a sidewalk along the east side of the street; and
- all driveways will be replaced with an asphalt driveway apron.
The New Lenox Village Board approved a construction contract last week, assuring a start next week for major road improvements on Pine Street.
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Austin Tyler was approved as the lowest bidder at $482,755.04, well below the estimated cost. There were seven other bidders ranging from $516,427 to $798,312.
At some times there will not be access to the street, but residents will be able to enter their driveways at the end of each day. According to the village, either Second Avenue or Third Avenue will be accessible during the week and both will be on weekends.
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To allow the concrete to properly settle, there will be a period of five days in which driving on it will not be allowed. Residents may park on adjacent streets and will not be ticketed for overnight parking.
As the village undertakes a 20-year plan to resurface every road in New Lenox, the board approved spending about $1.3 million to get started a year early.
The village will resurface 10 roads, most notably including the area along Pine Street near .
Currently, the village resurfaces about 1.6 miles of road every summer. But because of new revenue from increasing sales and utility taxes, New Lenox can fix 6 miles of road annually.
The tax increases, approved last year, will bring in an additional $2.9 million of annual revenue for New Lenox. About $1.1 million of that will go toward side street repairs each year, complimented by $700,000 from the annual Motor Fuel Tax fund.
Which Roads Will Be Fixed?
Street Subdivision/Roads Estimated Cost South Nelson Road Country Creek to Laraway $186,227 Pine Street Haven to Fourth $482,755.04* First Avenue Cedar to Pine $21,554 Second Avenue Cedar to west end $36,537.46Third Avenue
Cedar to west end $43,484.97 Fourth Avenue Cedar to Pine $16,344.46 Alley Second to Third $7,436.27 Alley Oak to Pine $20,023.64Auburn Court
Cherry Hill Manor $46,869.18 Rossford Lane Cherry Hill Manor $290,932.01 TOTAL $1,294,579.27*Actual cost approved Monday night.
After approving the tax increase, the village said it would begin the 20-year resurfacing plan in 2013. But there's enough money in the budget this year to tackle some priority projects. That includes Pine Street, which will require the most extensive work and thus costs the most.
"This is a major, major construction project," Mayor Tim Baldermann said Monday night. "It's something that's been needed for a long time."
Baldermann said the village met with residents in that area and that they were thrilled. While other road projects will mostly consist of resurfacing, the Pine Street improvements are a complete overhaul that includes replacing the storm sewers.
The area gets more traffic than many side streets, particularly because St. Jude Catholic Church and school is tucked back there.
Previously, the board approved a $45,514 engineering contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering for the Pine Street project.
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