4 Mile Road Train Project Back On-Track

Although you may not see it, progress is being made on the 4 Mile Road project, which is on-track for its new completion date of July 2013.

Currently, much of the work is 25 feet underground while the foundation is being laid for the train bridge, according to Village Engineer Mike Hayek.

Steel pilings are being driven into the ground 20 to 25 feet deep and then a 4-foot thick reinforced concrete foundation is being constructed to support the new bridge.

So far 70 of the 118 piles are already driven and one of three concrete foundations has been poured, Hayek said.  Construction is a little ahead of schedule due to the recent stretch of mild weather.

The 4 Mile Road project is needed to alleviate traffic back-ups caused by increased train traffic, but the solution—building a bridge over Four Mile Road—has been a pain for area residents.

Earlier this month, Hayek explained to the village board that the project had been delayed due to changes in the plans recommended by the railroad. The changes required the village to design new plans and reapply for permissions from the Department of Natural Resources and US Army Corp of Engineers because the project crosses wetlands and a floodplain.