Four Lanes on Friday for Route 64?

The calendar is continuing to wind down toward the Nov. 16 reopening of Route 64 as a four-lane roadway as most construction activity takes a breather for the winter months.

St. Charles Public Works Engineering Division Manager James Bernahl, in a weekly email update to East-Side Merchants, residents and others who have signed up for the courtesy, said the contractor on the project is continuing to make good progress.

“It is anticipated that by Nov. 16, 2012, four lanes of traffic through this corridor will be reopened to the public for the winter shut-down period,” Bernahl’s email concludes.

One key development — the completion of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s traffic signal upgrade project is complete. Officials believe that will help end some daily lane closures.

The work included:

• Switching all pedestrian crossing signals to countdown signals;
• Installing new emergency-detection equipment;
• Replacing traffic signal lighting to use LED technology.

Work this week will be geared toward wrapping up the season’s paving work, and businesses on Route 64 can expect to see the aprons to the highway paved as well.

Here are more details about what to expect:

38^th Avenue to Route 59:

• Paving to begin of driveways on the north and south side of East Main Street beginning Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012.
• Atlantic Drive roadway excavation to continue beginning Nov. 14, 2012. Weather permitting this work is expected to be completed by Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. Pavement stabilization work is expected to begin Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.
• Placement of aggregate base material to continue all week on both the north and south sides of East Main Street from Kautz Road to Powis Road. That will be capped with an asphalt layer in preparation for the new concrete roadway. Placement of the concrete roadway is expected to begin on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.
• Installation of reinforcement materials is to continue for the south side of the bridge east of Powis Road. The eastbound southern section of the bridge deck is expected to be placed beginning Monday Nov. 11, 2012. This work is expected to be completed in two days at which time the deck will be allowed to cure to reach strength.

7^th Avenue to Kirk Road:

• Pouring of concrete curbs and gutter, driveway aprons, roadway base preparation work, and placement of asphalt pavement are expected to continue between 13^th Avenue and Fieldgate Drive and is expected to be completed by Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.
• Backfilling of the curbs and gutters will continue at various locations and should be complete by Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012.
• In preparation for the winter shut-down conditions, temporary aggregate material will continue to be placed in designated locations, along with winter notification signs. This work is expected to be ongoing until the Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.

Winter Months

While much of the Route 64 work will halt for the winter months, it will not end completely, officials have said. In his email, Bernahl reminds residents and businesses the installation of electrical improvements will continue through the winter months as weather permits. While no permanent lane closures are expected as part of this work, he writes, motorists may expect random daily lane closures at various locations within the job site. The completion of this work during the winter months will help to expedite the roadway replacement work in 2013.

Residents and local businesses with questions or concerns about specific site issues are asked to contact the IDOT Resident Engineer Dave Cuthbertson at the IDOT field office: 1-630-549-0768.

Weekly updates and information are also available on the city of St. Charles website: http://www.stcharlesil.gov/projects/construction/64-kautz-59.

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