Key ECC roadway project delayed

Better get used to that detour around Spartan Drive at Elgin Community College.

The $2.3 million, 3,000-foot-long reconstruction of the main access road to the community college won't be completed until spring 2010, the college announced Monday.

When construction began in October, officials were hopeful to reopen the road by Dec. 1.

That was not to be as early winter conditions and contract issues delayed work and now the project will be done sometime in May.

"The original schedule for the City of Elgin project estimated that the road would reopen on Dec. 1, and then close again in early spring for final resurfacing. However, early winter weather conditions forced contractors to modify that time frame," the college said in a statement.

Sue Olafson, city spokeswoman, said the city was to make every effort possible to have the road be driveable by Dec. 31, but other parts of the project, such as landscaping and lights, would be done in the spring.

She said a delay in signing off on contracts meant work didn't start until three weeks before the end of the construction season. That delay, combined with cold weather, forced the city to delay the project until warmer weather returns.

"We decided to suspend the project because we wanted the work to be guaranteed," Olafson said.

For now, motorists coming from McLean Boulevard must take Fleetwood Drive or Weld Road to Second Street.

From Randall Road, Spartan Drive closes at its intersection with Renner Drive, so drivers must proceed north on Renner to get to ECC.

Reconstruction of the road wasn't even part of the city's 5-year road improvement plan. But college officials didn't want to wait that long, so they lent the city money in the fall so the project could get started now.

The city is due to repay the loan in 2015.