Naperville Riverwalk rehab roadblock

Naperville's Riverwalk rehabilitation plans have hit a snag that will drive up costs and delay its completion.

But officials say the work is still moving forward and they aren't overly concerned.

The $1.44 million project is designed to rejuvenate the original stretch of the landmark park between Eagle and Main streets downtown.

Work on the path began in early February with the goal of reconstructing the bulkhead wall from the 1930s that supports the lower walkway. But crews recently discovered the bedrock they were expecting to find is two to three feet deeper than anticipated, Riverwalk Commission Chairman Rick Hitchcock said Wednesday.

Hitchcock said even with skilled engineers on the project, it's almost inevitable to find something unexpected when working in an area with old rubble.

"It's not like shock and horror," he said. "It was 'OK, it's a little deeper than we thought so we'll modify the foundation and dig a little deeper hole.'"

Engineers and designers already have worked out a solution but will need an additional $20,100 for redesign and $105,000 for materials and construction, Riverwalk Administrator Jan Erickson said.

The commission will bring the request for additional funds to the city council on Tuesday.

Despite exceeding the city's allotted funding, Erickson said the project still is under its original budget estimate of $1.8 million.

Although work on that particular component of the project has halted, crews are continuing to work on other areas of the park, she said.

But the bedrock issue, combined with uncooperative weather, means the project likely will be completed closer to Aug. 1 than the original date of June 30.

Erickson said that's not an ideal situation for the popular park, but staff members want to make sure the work is done properly.

"We're trying our best and we really want to make sure the improvements are done for generations to come," she said.

The project includes enhancing Veteran's Plaza, widening the lower walkway and making it handicapped-accessible, and improving pedestrian areas north of the Dandelion Fountain and the stairway east of the Webster Street bridge.

The commission also will combine two narrow walkways into a Grand Promenade and widen the sidewalk along Jackson Avenue, replacing it with brick pavers.

Additional phases of the project may begin in the fall.