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Milwaukee Avenue resurfacing heading to home stretch

Months of aggravating roadwork along Milwaukee Avenue from downtown Libertyville south through Lake County appears to be in the home stretch, but it won't be soon enough for drivers and local officials.

For about three months, workers have ground the asphalt, replaced curbs, patched concrete and completed various other tasks in anticipation of resurfacing about eight miles of the major thoroughfare in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove and Riverwoods.

The work being done for the Illinois Department of Transporation involves two projects: from Church Street in Libertyville to Route 60 in Vernon Hills; and from Route 60 south to Lake-Cook Road. The total cost is about $4.3 million for work north of Route 60 and $5.4 million south for a total of about $9.7 million.

In Libertyville, Plote Construction Inc., on Tuesday is scheduled to ask the village board for permission to work overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to pave the final surface layer. The work, which could begin later this week or next, would take about 11 shifts to complete, according to the company.

"It's been a long, drawn out process. A lot more curb replacement than anticipated and a lot more pavement patches than anticipated," said Kerry Field, senior project manager for Plote.

Rain has also delayed work, he added. Final paving was to have begun Monday, but concrete work needed to be finished.

"I'm hoping to get to the point we can pave this week," Field added.

As they did to start the project, Libertyville officials are expected to approve the overnight shifts.

"Certainly, it will be our desire to get this job done as quickly as possible, as it has been lingering for quite some time," public works director John Heinz said.

"We're frustrated with the lack of progress that was made in the last week and the closures we've endured now coming up on two weeks," he added.

Field said that once paving starts, it should be complete in three to four weeks. The IDOT construction report lists the completion dates for both projects as September.

Other communities along the way also are ready for the final overlay. In Vernon Hills, the work includes construction of landscaped medians between Ring Road and Route 60 near Westfield Hawthorn mall, as well as resurfacing south of Route 60. Westfield is finishing a $50 million renovation.

"Our board has given approval to both projects to work at night," said David Brown, village engineer/public works director.

The curbs for two medians have been installed, but there is other work associated with that and an irrigation system and plantings that need to be installed. All work should be complete in about 45 days, he said.

The cost of additional landscaping and irrigation is $101,500, with the village portion not to exceed $75,162. Brown said IDOT paid to remove and replace the concrete medians and perimeter curbs and gutter.

"We're very glad IDOT is paving the roadway. We think it complements what's happening at Westfield very well," Brown said.

South of Route 60, the road is awaiting a final surface, Brown said.

@dhmickzawislak

  Work to resurface Milwaukee Avenue from Church Street south in Libertyville began about three months ago. The road contractor will ask village officials for permission to work overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to install the final surface. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
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