When Gary Avenue road construction could be done

Carol Stream drivers: You can throw open that sunroof, turn on some toe-tapping tunes and enjoy the wide open road that is sure to be Gary Avenue.

Just try to find a few more ounces of patience to get there.

After what was supposed to be one construction season dragged into two, the lion's share of Gary Avenue roadwork should be complete in a matter of weeks.

“It's a ton of work, and it's had its hiccups,” Village Manager Joseph Breinig said.

Most of those hiccups — save some potential rain delays — are in the rearview mirror. The $11.3 million, DuPage County project to widen and resurface the major thoroughfare through Carol Stream began in spring 2014, and along the way, construction workers hit snags.

Some were complex and related to moving above- and underground utilities, acquiring land and, most recently, dealing with the plant that makes the asphalt, officials say.

Now, crews could resume putting down the final paving from North Avenue to Park Hill Drive on Friday, DuPage County spokeswoman Johnna Kelly said. That should be a one-day job.

Then, they'll pave Gary from Park Hill to the railroad tracks just before Army Trail Road.

While some final touches will still need to be done, all lanes are expected to reopen to traffic by mid-July, depending on weather, Kelly said.

“I'm sure it will be a great relief,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Luanne Triolo Newman, adding that some businesses have been challenged by the loss of customers turned off by traffic delays.

Mayor Frank Saverino acknowledged those frustrations but urged drivers to “look at the big picture.”

“We fought for over 12 years to get that done out there,” he said.

Saverino said the condition of the road had deteriorated from heavy use. Trucks traveling to and from the village's industrial park, for instance, would have to jump the curb to try to make turns, Saverino said.

“Frankly, we would get more complaints about the condition of Gary Avenue than we did about our own streets,” Breinig said.

To get a sense of the improvements, Breinig noted the reaction to the base surface, laid down ahead of last winter.

“It was so much better than what was there before, we had people who thought they were done,” said Breinig, prompting the village to remind drivers it was still a 35 mph construction zone.

As part of the project, intersections were widened, traffic signals were upgraded and an aging culvert where water passes under Gary at Kehoe Boulevard was replaced.

The project also set the groundwork for a bike path on Gary's west side from North Avenue to Army Trail Road, Breinig said. Still in the design phase, the path will link cyclists to Bloomingdale and Great Western trails.

“I think when it's done, people will get it,” Breinig said. “Right now, we're in the growing pains part of it.”