Barrington Metra station just got more colorful

The project to renovate the exterior of the Barrington Metra station, a significant focal point in the village, has been completed despite a slight snafu.

At the end of May, work began to replace the brick pavers that serve as walkways around the station with colored and stamped concrete.

Mark Werksman, director of public works, said the brick pavers were crumbling more and more each year and the cost of maintaining them was increasing.

"We have enhanced the landscape around the station and the new decorative concrete will require little future maintenance," he said.

The project was initially projected to last from 30 to 60 days, weather permitting. Werksman said the weather cooperated and the job was finished in five weeks.

Although the weather cooperated, a "slight snafu" by Alliance Contractors, the group commissioned to do the work, delayed construction.

Werksman said Alliance did not allow the colored concrete to cure long enough before they applied a coat of weather-resistant sealer, which made the concrete look ugly and set incorrectly. Werksman said Alliance made it right without charging the village for the extra work.

Werksman said a new coat of weather-resistant sealer will be applied every two to three years to maintain it.

In addition to the new concrete, six decorative flower planters were installed, with flowers provided by the Field and Flower Gardens Club of Barrington. Two more planters will be installed in the fall.

Werksman said feedback from commuters on the new surface has been overwhelmingly positive.

"One of the main focal points in Barrington is our train depot and we like to see it looking good," Werksman said.

According to the village website, there has been a train station in downtown Barrington since 1854 and the town built up around it.