Record rain slows some construction projects
The wettest June in Illinois history has created obstacles for some road and home construction projects across the suburbs.
Some road projects, including the Peterson Road widening in Lake County, have been delayed because workers couldn't pour asphalt in the rain, and couldn't grade dirt without the equipment getting stuck in the mud.
"The contractor was making really good progress until all the rain came," said Glenn Petko, a construction engineer with the Lake County Division of Transportation, about the Peterson Road project. "(The rain) was more than just an annoyance."
On the upshot, recently planted landscaped is thriving thanks to the excessive rainfall, builders say.
The statewide average rainfall last month was 9.53 inches, making it the wettest June on record and second wettest month in Illinois history, according to the Illinois State Climatologist. It's more than double the average June rainfall of 4.2 inches.
Locally, Barrington had 6.99 inches of rain, Elburn had 11.31 inches, Elgin had 8.35 inches, and Glen Ellyn and Lisle each had roughly 9 inches, according to the National Weather Service. That's nearly double, or in some cases, almost triple, each town's typical June rainfall average.
Contractors always build bad weather delays into their schedules, but June had many days that were complete rainouts and several others where crews could squeeze in only a half-day's work. It meant fewer hours of pay for some of the workers who are paid hourly, Petko said.
Crews worked in the rain as much as possible, doing things like putting in storm sewer and underground pipes, or prepping stones.
"As they say, April showers bring May flowers, but it's kind of odd to be this wet into June," Petko said. "We're hoping for a drier July. I'm sure soon we'll be wishing we had some rain to keep the dust down."
The rain has caused some "project shuffling and creativity with scheduling" at the construction site at Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora, where they're building a major addition, spokeswoman Ashley Moses said. But the grand opening is still on schedule for the last week of August.
It's a similar situation at the King Court Builders home construction projects, including Highland Woods in Elgin, Ashwood Park in Naperville, and Grande Park in Plainfield.
"There are no major delays in the schedule. Winter, when it's that deep freeze, that's when we have delays because people can't work. The rain really doesn't stop us too much," said Director of Sales and Marketing Joelle Tilche.
The only obstacle has been getting dry topsoil to finish landscaping or asphalt paving, Tilche said.
The rain has not put any of the Illinois tollway projects - including the eastern segment of I-90 and the Elgin-O'Hare Western Access Project - behind schedule. Since the work is taking place over several years, there is flexibility to make adjustments and revise construction plans, spokesman Dan Rozek said.