Ways To Stop Flooding In Western Springs Neighborhood

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs is considering ways to stop flooding in the Springdale neighborhood.

The village's engineering firm, Christopher Burke Engineering, has provided two options to direct stormwater to a newly constructed basin in Springdale Park, according to a village memo released last week.

The storm sewer could be either on Howard Avenue or Franklin Avenue. The Howard alternative is cheaper, at $5.3 million, compared with $5.6 million for Franklin.

The construction costs are higher than the estimates provided in a 2021 engineering study.

Part of that is because of the general rise in construction costs, the memo said. But it's also attributed to the finding that more excavation is needed to keep the park functional for the local park district.

The village staff recommends the Howard option because of the lower cost. A secondary reason is that Howard's pavement is in worse condition than Franklin's. The village sees the project as a chance to resurface Howard.

The staff plans to ask the engineering firm to present the final plans for the Howard option.

No action is required at this time from the Village Board, according to the memo.

By a narrow margin, Western Springs voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed 1 percentage point increase in the sales tax. The money from the tax was expected to pay for stormwater and street projects.

The village is also considering a stormwater fee that could help pay for the Springdale project, among others.