Infrastructure projects on the west side of town are moving forward, with two expected to go out for bid in January.
"On the Veterans Memorial Drive and Davidson project, we expect to receive the permit Dec. 1," City Manager Ron Neibert said. "We spoke to them last week, and they said it would be to us by Dec. 1."
The city has been waiting on permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for construction of the extensions of South Davidson and Veterans Memorial Drive, which will allow for traffic from the new interchange to travel behind Wal-Mart and up to South Davidson. South Davidson now ends between Wal-Mart and Kohl's Department Store.
"I'm hoping to have the request at the second (city council) meeting in December or the first one in January to authorize us to go out for bid on the project," Neibert said.
In addition, sewer and water lines for the Veterans Memorial Drive/Davidson extension are expected to be ready for construction as well, with design engineering complete.
"Again, I hope that in January or February to be able to go out for bid," Neibert said.
Construction work is also expected within the next few weeks on the Times Square Mall water tower. CB & I of Plainfield was chosen to construct the new tower in July, with a bid of $989,300 — well below the estimated $1.2 million for the project.
"They are still working on some issues with the shop drawings and foundation," Neibert explained. "We hope to have those issues rectified next week and they should begin the actual construction shortly thereafter."
Work is still underway by the city to obtain right-of-way for the widening project on South 34th Street, and Neibert said he is beginning to look to the Comprehensive Plan for the next projects to present to the council.
"We're looking, trying to decide which ones identified in the plan to implement next," Neibert said. "We want to keep projects going in cycles, and it's almost time to start the next projects going." http://bit.ly/tmFEds
