Improvements in Glen Ellyn parking lot's immediate future

Glen Ellyn's Montclair parking lot will most likely be reconstructed come April.

The parking lot, located on the south side of the railroad tracks between Park Boulevard and Montclair Avenue, now accommodates 160 vehicles. Once the improvements are completed, the lot will hold 167 vehicles.

Planned improvements will be made to curbs, gutters and storm sewers. There also will be decorative lighting units placed from Park Boulevard to Taylor Avenue and the Prairie Path will be paved in the area immediately adjacent to the parking lot.

"It is years overdue and we finally got plans, specifications and approvals from the county, railroad and village," Public Works Director Joe Caracci said. "It's been about three years in the process."

The roughly $820,000 project will be conducted in two stages and the lot is expected to be completed prior to July 4.

The first phase, which should be completed by May 15, will focus on the eastern section, and will leave about 60 parking spaces free during construction. The second will begin after May 15 and about 100 parking spots will be available then.

Caracci said people can park in other lots during construction as long as their permits are in view.

There are about 15 major lots in the village and there's a push to start reconstructing all of them.

"We're going to start spending money on our parking lots," Caracci said.

Village officials are expected to approve the project at next Monday's village board meeting, at 7:30 p.m. in the Galligan Board Room of the Civic Center.