I&M Canal Trail Ramp, Bridge Contract Awarded By Lemont Village Board

LEMONT, IL — At its Monday meeting, the Lemont Village Board approved awarding a contract for an ADA ramp on the I&M Canal south trail at Lemont Street and at the I&M Canal pedestrian bridge east of Holmes Street.

Public Works Director Ralph Pukula said the contract is for two downtown improvement projects.

"One [project] is an ADA switchback approach to the stairway that goes across the [pedestrian] bridge," Pukula said, adding that the project has been in the works since 2015.

The second project is a pedestrian bridge that goes across the I&M Canal east of Holmes Street.

The two projects were bid together, Pukula said. The lowest bid was from MYS, Incorporated, for $985,792.50.

The Village received a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which will partially fund the project.

Village Administrator George Schafer said the project has been in the Village's capital plan for years, but the Village has had a hard time funding it.

"Luckily enough, we're able to get funding for the project," he said.

The projects will begin in the spring, Schafer said.