Village To Address 'Old Town' Project Concerns At Aug. 4 Meeting

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield's historic district, including parts of Lockport, is getting a makeover. To share more information about the "Old Town" project, officials are holding a meeting Aug. 4.

Exhibits from the project will be available to view and staff will be able to answer questions about the project from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Boy Scout Park, 23729 W. Ottawa St.

The construction project aims to improve many aspects of this part of Plainfield, from sidewalks to sewers and streets, but some residents say they haven't gotten a consistent story from village officials, while others are concerned about property lines and tree removal.

The crux of the reconstruction project was a lead water service replacement project that began in 2017 to replace lead water service lines and upgrade water mains and sanitary and storm sewers. Randall Jessen, the village's superintendent of public improvements, told Patch last month that it made sense to reconstruct the roads as the final phase of the project.

One of the most controversial aspects includes converting the walkway on the south side of Lockport Street to an eight-foot-wide shared-use sidewalk to accommodate both pedestrians and bicyclists.

This path, for which construction is set to begin in the spring of 2022, will go from Route 59 near Plainfield Academy east toward the Canadian National railroad tracks.

RELATED: 'Old Town' Sidewalk Project Concerns Some Residents

In an email, Jessen said a letter is going out to residents on Lockport Street and Eastern Avenue since the next phase of the project directly impacts them.

The project includes construction that will take place on Lockport Street, east of Route 59, and on Eastern Avenue, from Lockport Street to IL 126.

Here is an overview of the forthcoming infrastructure improvements:

• Sanitary sewer lining and repair work will occur in 2021.
• The installation of new water main, replacement of water service lines, storm sewer upgrades, road reconstruction, pedestrian accommodations, lighting, and landscaping is scheduled to occur in 2022.
• Improvements on Center, Bartlett, Evans, and Amboy are scheduled to occur in 2023. An additional public information meeting will occur in early 2022 to address questions regarding proposed improvements in this area.

Jessen also said all responses from the first informational meeting regarding the project, which took place June 9, were collected, and those issues will be addressed at the upcoming meeting.

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