A major phase of construction on the long-planned upgrade of the Waukegan and Westleigh roads intersection will begin March 9, city officials announced.
The $3.7 million project will add new turn lanes, enhance pedestrian crosswalks, improve drainage, and widen and resurface the roadway at the busy crossing. Utility relocation work has been underway in recent weeks in preparation for full construction.
The project is being funded primarily through a federal grant of roughly $2.6 million, with the city covering the remaining cost. The work is expected to be completed by the end of July, according to City Engineer Byron Kutz.
In related action, the City Council approved a nearly $54,000 contract to repair a 14-inch section of water main at the intersection. The location was the site of last October’s water main break that triggered a citywide boil order lasting more than 24 hours.
The city will host a public open house about the project from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 5 at 1111 Telegraph Road to answer residents’ questions.
Meanwhile, the city is moving forward with planning for similar improvements at the nearby intersection of Waukegan and Everett roads, a project that has been under consideration since 2009, Kutz said.
He cited persistent congestion caused by nearby schools and railroad tracks.
“There are a lot of times it just really backs up,” Kutz told the council at its Feb. 17 meeting.
To address the issue, the city is considering adding new turning lanes or widening existing ones, along with installing curbs and gutters to prevent drivers on the west side from bypassing stopped traffic near the railroad tracks.
The project will require acquiring land from several neighboring private properties to accommodate the proposed lane configuration.
Kutz said the city has secured two federal grants totaling nearly $4 million — one for construction and another for right-of-way acquisition. Because federal rules require a 20 % local match for land purchases, the council approved a nearly $219,000 contribution toward land acquisition, currently estimated to exceed $1 million.
Kutz cautioned that the figure could change once appraisals and negotiations begin, though officials hope private in-kind land donations could offset some of the cost. Construction is tentatively scheduled for 2028.
Drinking fountains
In other action, following a recommendation from the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), the council approved nearly $34,000 to purchase and install eight bottle-fill stations to replace standard drinking fountains at several city parks.
Two bottle-fill stations are already in place at Forest Park Beach and South Park. The new stations will include dog bowl attachments and are scheduled to be installed this spring by the public works department.
“We are proud of how practical this project is and how it will contribute to the sustainability goals of our committee,” said Ald. Nancy Novit, 1st, who is also the ESC chairwoman.
Parking plan
The council also unanimously approved a revised parking plan for the central business district aimed at simplifying regulations and improving customer access.
Council members voted yes on Feb. 2 on the overall plan, but staff provided some updates in the final version. Specifically, there would be time restrictions of either 30 or 90 minute limits in certain zones from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Also, the staff will now maintain four 30-minute spaces in the north train depot lot, on the east side of the railroad tracks.
In the first proposal, staff recommended discontinuation of the 30-minute spaces in both the north and south depot lots. However, staff reported getting feedback from businesses operating inside the train depot as well as residents who frequent those businesses that the spaces are important and should not be removed.
The new parking plan takes effect May 1.
Water rates
Aldermen also gave final approval to an across-the-board 6.75 % increase in water and sewer rates effective May 1. The council had initially approved the increase at its Feb. 2 meeting.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
