Politics & Government
Heat Could Fuel Route 64 Frustrations This Week
Nearly three years of travel delays due to the reconstruction of East Main Street/Route 64 might prove even less bearable as temperatures rise.
If traffic delays haven’t been enough of a drag already, the prospect of higher temperatures in the area likely will make it worse for some drivers trying to traverse the city’s main East-West corridor, now in it’s third year of a reconstruction project.
Public Works Engineering Division Manager James Bernahl, in his weekly email update to businesses and residents, outlined what to expect as construction crews continue their efforts to conclude the project by late summer and fall.
38th Avenue to Route 59:
Crews are working to install the center section of the roadway at the intersection of East Main Street and Pheasant Run’s main entrance. The work includes grading, placing the aggregate sub-base, installing the bituminous sub-base and installing the new concrete roadway. This work is expected to be completed by July 30, 2013. In the meantime, the middle section of the intersection will be closed to cross traffic. Once workers complete this intersection, they’re scheduled on July 20 to begin the same work at East Main Street and Smith/Kautz Road, a phase that is due to be completed by Aug. 15, 2013. According to Bernahl’s release, during this phase, while the intersections are closed, the Illinois Department of Transportation has installed turn-around locations for motorists traveling both eastbound and westbound. This will enable motorists to turn around and access either the north or south side of East Main Street.
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Placement of the mainline bituminous sub-base for eastbound and westbound traffic from Powis Road toward Pheasant Run was expected to be completed by Friday July 12, 2013. Crews now will begin preparing to place the mainline concrete pavement for both eastbound and westbound traffic from Powis Road toward Pheasant Run. This work is due to be completed by Monday, July 22, 2013.
Workers are continuing to prepare the subgrade of the roadway from the Pheasant Run entrance toward Kautz Road. This work is expected to be ongoing for the next three weeks, weather permitting.
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Construction related to the new bridge near Powis Road should continue through the next few months. Work at the bridge is expected to be completed by July 30, 2013. Crews were to begin placing the approach sections of the roadway to the new bridge on Thursday July 11, 2013. This phase is expected to be completed over the next three to four weeks.
7th Avenue to Kirk Road
Crews are to continue roadway grinding and preparation for the placement of the new first layer of asphalt between Dunham Road and Kirk Road. The contractor hopes to complete the placement of the new asphalt by July 24, 2013.
Crews will continue to frame and pour driveway aprons and curbing on the north side of East Main Street from 13th Avenue to Surrey Woods Drive. This work is expected to be completed by the end of this week, weather permitting.
Crews expect to grade and prepare the remaining middle section of roadway between 8th Avenue and 13th Avenue. Beginning this week, the contractor expected to prepare and pour concrete on this same section of roadway.
Work to form and place retaining wall No. 2 and No. 3 will continue. Retaining wall No. 2 is near East Main and Cedar Avenue. Retaining wall No. 3 is on the north side of East Main Street about 500 feet east of Hunt Club Drive. This work is expected to be ongoing for the next two weeks.
Crews will continue grinding and placement of bituminous materials between Dunham Road and Kirk. Motorists may experience periodic delays caused by the delivery of bituminous materials.
Work to place the new traffic signal mast arms, various street lights, and miscellaneous electrical work is due to continue along this section of the roadway. This work is expected to be ongoing for the next few weeks.
On Saturday July 13, 2013, crews began placing bituminous materials near the southwest corner of East Main Street and Industrial Drive. During this time, crews may close to the general public a section of Industrial Drive for a period of five hours to complete this work. IDOT has notified the surrounding businesses and will insure that proper traffic control measures are in place to direct traffic. IDOT has assured the City that emergency vehicles will have access at all times in case of an emergency.
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