Elgin set to tackle street repairs

The beginning of spring means, of course, the start of road projects in and around Elgin.

And that will mean some headaches for drivers.

But the payoff in the end will be better roads, smoother rides and, yes, even more room for bicyclists.

"The work now is just starting to kick off," said Dave Lawry, the city's general services director. "In the next two weeks, there's going to be a lot of activity starting up. It will really take off."

City leaders have pledged an additional $7 million toward resurfacing asphalt roads with large potholes caused by the tough winter.

The additional 20 miles to be repaved this year will be announced by city leaders on Wednesday.

Many of the projects involve scraping off the top few inches of asphalt and repaving. That enables the city to stretch each dollar further.

For a six-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of Wing Park Boulevard from Wing Park Road to Highland Avenue, city officials are giving neighbors more say in the project.

City officials met with residents in the Wing Park Boulevard area several weeks ago. Today, letters will be sent out to 75 homeowners, presenting them with two choices.

The first would be a traditional repaving of the street, with dedicated, striped bike lanes in each direction.

The alternative would be for a landscaped median on Wing Park, along with replacing the sidewalk on the street's east end with a 10-foot-wide bike path.

If chosen, this will boost the cost to $1.5 million from $1.3 million.

City spokeswoman Sue Olafson said the letters are due back by April 18 and are designed to give residents a greater voice.

"This is the first year we've done this," Lawry said.

At least one resident has her mind made up.

Bridget McGuinness said her street is in terrible shape, but the median option costs too much. "The part that bothers me is what the city would be spending," she said.

The city is in the second year of street construction and streetscape improvements for the central business district.

It also is the third year of revamping underground utilities before surface work is done.

Work on small areas will continue through 2011. This year, parts of Chicago Street and Douglas Avenue are up for new sidewalks, curbs, decorative street lights and other amenities.

For updates, visit www.downtownelgin.info or go to www.cityofelgin.org and click "Gettin' Around in Downtown."