Wheeling will replace often ruptured Dundee Road water main

Replacing a water main on Dundee Road in Wheeling should cause minimal pain and prevent future problems, Mark Janeck, the village’s director of community development, said this week.

The village board Monday approved a contract for almost $400,000 with City Construction Company of Chicago to replace 1,700 feet of water main pipe on the north side of Dundee Road from Northgate Parkway to approximately 450 feet west of the Buffalo Creek bridge. The price also includes 550 feet of sidewalk from Northgate almost to the post office.

The old cast iron pipe that has broken seven times in the last three winters — requiring closures of the westbound lane of Dundee Road — will be replaced.

The work will start within 10 days, Janeck said. The board awarded the contract without public bidding because City Construction was the low bidder of 11 on other water main projects in the village. Staff believed the price City offered was very good, a report from Janeck said.

“This is not normally done, especially with a project this large,” Janeck told village trustees, “but since they are in town they have given us a very good price.”

Village President Dean Argiris suggested the village could save more money by installing its own fire hydrants. Janeck said staff would investigate that.

Money for the sidewalk will come from Town Center Tax Increment Financing.