Residents get peek at Villa Park's proposed road repairs

Residents will get their first look tonight at plans to rebuild some of Villa Park's worst side streets at a special workshop.

The village wants to borrow $20 million to $30 million for the road work and "we're looking to see if the residents want to support it," Village Manager Bob Niemann said.

Officials will provide details for three construction options - low-, medium- and high-end - including maps of the roads to be fixed and the cost for the owner of an average Villa Park home.

The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 20 S. Ardmore Ave.

"It's a tough time to ask, but we know the only way we can ever get caught up (with road repairs) is by going to referendum," Niemann said.

If the village board decides to go ahead with a tax increase request, the question would be on the ballot for the Feb. 2, 2010 election.

No federal or state money is available for side-street repair, Niemann said. About a half-dozen streets are on the list, and four - Kenilworth Street, Michigan Avenue, Park Boulevard and Central Street - need total reconstruction at a cost of nearly $3 million per mile.

"You'd think for $20 million you could come in and resurface the whole town, but that's not the case," Niemann said.

The last time voters approved a tax increase for road repair was in 1994.