More construction on Randall

Two years of road construction at Randall Road and Route 64 in St. Charles is scheduled to wrap up at the end of October, but drivers in that area could face even more traffic cones and lane closures almost immediately.

A portion of South Randall Road between Route 64 and Oak Street is in need of "serious" repairs unrelated to the intersection project, and city officials want to address them before drivers get too used to construction-free commutes.

"There's been enough inconvenience out there, and we don't need it again next spring," 2nd Ward Alderman Betsy Penny said Monday at a meeting of the city's government services committee.

St. Charles Public Works Director Mark Koenen told aldermen that Kane County officials plan to make the necessary repairs -- estimated to cost $150,000 to $200,000 -- next year.

But city officials hope to strike a deal where St. Charles would front the money and do related bidding work in order to fix the road this construction season, then be reimbursed by the county.

Koenen said motorists often describe the area where the construction would take place as "pothole ridden." He said repairs would mainly consist of grinding down and re-paving the road.

The repairs are expected to be far less cumbersome than the intersection improvements, which have taken place over two years and included widening both roads and adding turn lanes.

"It's not rebuilding the road," Koenen said.

Aldermen voted unanimously to propose an agreement with the county to do the repairs this year. If started soon, the work could be complete by Thanksgiving.

The county is responsible for the repairs because the damaged part of the road is just outside St. Charles city limits, officials said.