Glen Ellyn hires engineers for Park Boulevard, Main Street roadwork

Plans to reconstruct and widen a stretch of Park Boulevard are ramping up now that Glen Ellyn trustees have asked engineers to prepare designs.

Though the village doesn't expect to begin the work until 2018, some board members and police already have questioned whether the project should add a bike lane along a busy segment of Park.

Trustees have approved a $269,695 agreement with Engineering Enterprises Inc. to proceed to a second phase of designs for rebuilding Park Boulevard from Roosevelt Road north through the intersection of Fairview Avenue.

Along most of that route, crews could widen Park by about two feet on either side. The extra room could pave the way for a proposed bike lane, though engineers say they will continue to take a closer look.

Police Chief Phil Norton acknowledged the idea is "very preliminary," but told the board this week he isn't a fan.

"I don't think it's a good place for a bike lane at all," said Norton, citing traffic that travels at relatively high speeds on Park.

Village President Alex Demos noted plenty of adult commuters bike around that part of town and already share the road with cars. He would prefer to "afford them extra room for safety."

The accommodation for bicyclists would align with a long-term plan - "Move Glen Ellyn" - aimed at making the village more bike-friendly. The plan prioritizes improvements on north-south routes - and Park Boulevard fits that bill.

"Given that we are reconstructing that section of the roadway, it's an ideal time to incorporate that type of improvement in the project," Senior Civil Engineer Rich Daubert said. "We really don't try to encourage people to ride bicycles on sidewalks. There are some other safety concerns with vehicles backing out of driveways."

The project also calls for resurfacing another stretch of Park Boulevard from Fairview Avenue to the Union Pacific railroad tracks downtown. The village was unable to secure grants to fund bike accommodations on that portion of Park.

Engineering Enterprises, a Sugar Grove firm, also will complete two rounds of designs for resurfacing Main Street from Roosevelt to Fairview.

If trustees agree to move forward, the village would bid out the Park Boulevard and Main Street roadwork together in late 2017 or early 2018, Daubert said.

Construction on Park and Main could wrap up in one season, or about four months in 2018.

The village likely would stagger the work on each street to lessen the impact on traffic.