Plainfield moves ahead with Lockport Street bypass study
By Madhu Mayer Correspondent February 6, 2013 11:20PM
Updated: March 8, 2013 7:04AM
The Plainfield Village Board authorized Mayor Michael Collins to sign a professional service agreement with a company to perform the Lockport Street bypass feasibility study.
The agreement with Strand and Associates in Joliet stipulates that the cost will not exceed $93,450.
Randy Jessen, superintendent of public improvements for the village, said the village advertised request for proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a feasibility study of the possible future Lockport Street bypass corridor. After the village received 15 proposals, the packets were objectively ranked and the top four consultants were brought in for presentations and interviews.
Staff selected Strand and Associates, which, according to Jessen, was the “most-qualified consultant,” to conduct the study.
“In general,” said Jessen, “the scope of the work will be to review several potential routes to construct a new roadway between Lockport Street and Illinois 126/143rd Street east of the village. Several conceptual drawings have been produced in the past in advance of the I-55 interchange design and the 143rd Street extension (from Route 126 to Route 59).
“It is prudent that this study be completed at this time, in order to be included as part of the decision-making process for the proposed I-55 interchange improvements (at Airport Road/Lockport Street),” he said.
So far, Jessen said no detailed engineering work has been completed on the possible connection.
As long as affected homeowners are apprised of the study process, Trustee Margie Bonuchi was eager to forge ahead with the bypass that would hopefully keep truck traffic out of downtown.
Jessen said the company should finish the feasibility study by August. Funds for the project have been included in this year’s, as well as the upcoming fiscal year’s proposed budget.
