Downtown Project Planned In Western Springs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs plans to improve the "streetscape" of Burlington Avenue between Grand Avenue and Wolf Road.

The work is set to start in early September and mostly be completed by Thanksgiving.

On Monday, the Village Board approved Plano-based H. Linden & Sons to do the work. The company was the low bidder at nearly $1.9 million, more than an engineer's $1.4 million estimate.

The project includes two bump-outs of the sidewalk to reduce congestion and expand outdoor dining. Also planned is a raised crosswalk midblock between Lawn Avenue and Wolf Road, which aims to provide access to the train platform.

The work is also set to include the replacement of the water main and service lines.

"It's an aggressive timeframe, not a lot of waste of time in there," Jefferey Koza, the village's engineer, told the board.

He said the village wanted to lessen the project's impact on businesses.

"We're hoping the end result will be a benefit to downtown and the community," Koza said.

Village President Heidi Rudolph said she supported the project.

"The plan looks terrific in terms of the overall feel and accessibility as well as just the infrastructure upgrade, which is very, very needed," she said.