Burr Ridge Project To Prevent Flood Disaster: Village

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge has received $785,000 for a project that is expected to prevent a flooding disaster in a local neighborhood.

On Monday, the village announced the grant, which is from a federal community project program.

The money will be spent on the Elm Street culvert, which has suffered significant corrosion, according to a village news release.

The culvert was described as a regional watercourse for surrounding towns.

If the pipe collapsed, it would impact nearby Elm Elementary School for months and impede regional traffic in Burr Ridge, Hinsdale and Willowbrook, the village said.

It would also likely result in major damage to nearby homes, according to the village.

The village had been planning to double the capacity of the pipe. But with the federal money, officials said the culvert would be expanded five times its current size.

The project is expected to cost $1 million, with the village's share about $230,000, which will be paid for with federal pandemic aid to municipalities, according to the news release.

The project will not only cost $325,000 less than expected, but will result in a pipe much larger than originally planned, the village said.

The village credited U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, with helping get the money.

In January, the Village Board discussed how to spend nearly $1.4 million in federal pandemic relief. The Elm Street culvert was listed as the top priority.

Village Administrator Evan Walter called such a project a big upgrade for residents who have experienced overtopping on Elm.

"If this were built, it may solve the problem forever, in terms that they may never see overtopping again," Walter said.

Trustee Guy Franzese supported replacing the culvert.

"It could fail at any moment. We don't know. We don't have a crystal ball," he said.