Winfield dealing with escalating costs for underpass project

Winfield officials say they're getting closer to building a long-discussed pedestrian underpass near the Metra train station at Jewell and Winfield roads.

But rising construction costs stemming from the long-delayed project has increased the village's share of the bill more than 2ˆ¨ times the initial estimates provided just five months ago.

Village Manager William Barlow said Thursday the underpass project will cost about $3.1 million rather than the previously cited estimates of $2.3 million.

Much of that cost will be covered by state and federal grant money. But the village still will be responsible for paying more than $1.2 million.

Barlow said he and Village President Rudy Czech are expected to meet with officials from U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam's office next week to seek more grant money.

Options Barlow presented to village trustees to pay for the village's share of the project cost included borrowing the money or tapping funds in the village's tax-increment-finance fund, a pool of money created for the village's redevelopment efforts.

"We're certainly talking about a lot more money," Trustee Deborah Birutis said. The new figures "made my eyes pop out."

The pedestrian underpass has often been associated with Winfield's long-sought Town Center revitalization plan.

Past officials have argued the project was needed to ensure the safety of schoolchildren crossing the tracks to Winfield Primary and Central schools, as well as the elementary school run by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Barlow said the village is now hoping to seek bids for the underpass project in January and begin construction sometime next spring.