Politics & Government
The End Is in Sight for East Main Road Work
Substantial completion is expected Friday on the stretch from 7th Avenue to Kirk Road; the eastern portion of the project is looking to hit substantial completion on Oct. 1.
If you listen hard next Friday, you might just hear a collective sigh of relief coming from the East Side of downtown St. Charles. Perhaps a celebration may follow.
The East Main Street/Route 64 Reconstruction project that has pained commuters and cost East Side businesses a fair share of their commerce for nearly three years is drawing to an end, with substantial completion of the project’s western leg — from 7th Avenue to Kirk Road — due Friday, Aug. 30, 2013.
Further east, the project still has a little more than a month to go, with Oct. 1, 2013 the anticipated date of substantial completion.
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What exactly is substantial completion?
Well, it is not THE END of all work. St. Charle Public Works Engineering Division Manager Jim Bernahl has described it as meaning the completion of all major construction activities except for final restoration — landscaping, for example — and punch-list items that still may require some daily lane closures.
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In other words, don’t expect all the construction equipment to magically disappear come Friday, but the work is winding down, which should mean increasingly fewer disruptions of traffic and better access to businesses along the highway.
But the work is forging ahead. Construction crews have been pressing forward hard on paving work, according to Bernahl, who indicated it is scheduled to continue through the coming week. He advised parents to expect that to have an impact on trips to and from school if you have to go through the construction zone.
Here’s a rundown of what’s been happening and what to expect, as noted by Bernahl in his email to commuters, businesses and residents.
7th Avenue to Kirk Road
The placement of all roadway signs for the length of the project was to begin this week and be completed on Friday Aug. 30.
Crews were scheduled to complete minor saw-cutting and seal-coating of the new concrete roadway between 7th Avenue and 13th Avenue by Friday, Aug. 23, 2013. Roadway striping will begin along the sames section and should be done by Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. This section of roadway is expected to open to four lanes of traffic beginning Wednesday Aug. 28, 2013.
The final adjustment of the utility structures within the roadway is under way with an eye toward completion by Monday, Aug. 26. After that, crews will begin to place the surface course of asphalt along this section. The work could begin Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013 and could be completed by Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013 -- weather permitting.
Striping and roadway markings work would begin immediately after the placement of the final layer of asphalt and is due to be completed by Friday, Aug. 30, 2013.
Final adjustment of roadway lighting and traffic signals, including the removal of temporary traffic signals, is under way and should be done by Friday, Aug. 30, 2013.
38th Avenue to Route 59
Crews are still installing the center section of the roadway at East Main Street and Smith/Kautz roads. This includes removing the existing roadway, placing an aggregate sub-base, installing bituminous sub-base and installing the new concrete roadway, which is due to begin Monday Aug. 26. With the required seven-day cure time and minor ancillary work, the intersection should reopen Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.
Placement of the aggregate sub-base on Powis Road was to begin this week and be completing Monday Aug. 26. Once complete, crews will will prepare for the placement of the bituminous asphalt, which should start Friday Aug. 30 and be completed Tuesday Sept. 3, 2013.
The placement of topsoil between 38th Avenue and Route 59 was to begin this week and is due for completion by Friday Aug. 30 — weather permitting.
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