Carol Stream OKs contract for Illini Drive bridge replacement
A project to replace the aging Illini Drive bridge continues to move forward after the Carol Stream village board approved consultant contracts for construction drawings, permitting and bidding.
The board this week approved a contract not to exceed $54,258.31 with Wills Burke Kelsey Associates Ltd.
Officials said the Illini Drive work became necessary when inspectors discovered cracks on the bridge deck. Inspectors also found problems with concrete falling off the deck and rust on the structure, a roughly 21-foot concrete slab bridge constructed in 1974 over Klein Creek.
“Nothing that would cause it to fail, but there were some structural concerns,” Village Manager Joe Breinig said.
In 2012, Illinois Department of Transportation inspectors made a determination that the village would need to implement weight restrictions unless the bridge was repaired.
In September 2013 the village awarded a $79,903.01 preliminary engineering contract with Wills Burke Kelsey. Based on that Phase I study, a structure type was chosen and a scope of services could be drafted based on the preliminary design.
“(Phase II) is taking it from a concept in Phase I to something that we can actually bid on,” Breinig said. “We’ll get permitting from the appropriate agencies and take it to construction.”
The project will correct deficiencies and replace the entire bridge with a structurally and hydraulically adequate bridge or culvert.
Village officials hope to have the bid awarded and ready for construction by the time school gets out, with construction complete by the time the next school year begins.
“Illini Drive is critical to Jay Stream (Middle School), in particular. It’s one of the main streets going into it,” Breinig said. “We want to make sure we don’t create any undue problems.”