Rising Asphalt Prices Driving Up Costs for Woodridge Park District, Village is Less Affected

Rising petroleum costs have hit the hard but haven't had as great an effect on projects for the  

While the village has seen a higher price for asphalt for some projects, overall, projects have continued to come in under budget. 

That wasn't the case for some of the park district's asphalt resealing projects planned for this year. In fact, the lowest bid for the projects was more than double what was budgeted. 

Woodridge Park District

The original budget for the resealing of and several maintenance parking lots was $12,471, according to a report from Jennifer Knitter, superintendent of planning and development for the park district at April's board meeting. 

Woodridge Park District received proposals from four contractors for the work. The lowest bid submitted was $27,112, more than twice the budgeted amount. 

At its April meeting, the park district board refused all of those proposals, instead deciding to go into a cooperative with the village to save money. The park district's projects were included with the village's on one bid. 

Knitter said the park district would save money by going into a cooperative with the Village of Woodridge, whose bids were "much lower than what we have received for similar work..."

The budget for the work was changed, and an adjustment will be made to other parts of the budget to accommodate the increase. 

With the village, Knitter said the total amount for the project would be $26,713.79, which is $3,763.21 under the new budget for the project. 

The $26,713.79 figure includes work on the parking lot, the Com-Ed path from 63rd to 71st Street, the 83rd Street parking lot, the path at Hawthorne Hill, the Hawthorne Hill driveway, the path at Park, the path at , the path at , the Audubon bikeway, the bikeway at Janeswood/Meadowview, the Vicente path, the path at and the parking lot and path at . 

Village of Woodridge

Christopher Bethel, director of public works, said asphalt costs are not having a great effect on village projects because asphalt is one of 20-plus qualities contractors are bidding on. 

"That's only one piece of the pie," Bethel said. "Overall, projects are coming in under budget." 

For the village's motor fuel funded project, Winston Drive, Wainwright Drive and Ravinia Lane will be resurfaced, as well as miscellaneous patchwork. Asphalt for similar projects last year was $62 per ton. This year, aphalt will cost $74.85 a ton. 

"So there is an increase, but again it's only one item line through the project," Bethel said. 

The engineering estimate for the village's resurfacing projects was $408,696. The actual amount came out to $346,735. 

Last year's projects were projected to cost $315,782. The projects' actual amount was $280,648 for resurfacing Double Eagle and Mulligan Drives and miscellaneous patchwork throughout town. 

More examples: the village's sanitary sewer lining project was projected to cost $512,000 and will cost $473,000. A grant will cover 75 percent of that project. 

Water main replacement on Mitchell Drive from Westmoreland Drive to where Walnut Street is extended was budgeted at $690,000 and came in at $480,000. 

Information for this article was also provided by Engineering Inspector Adam Frederick.