Elburn's new sidewalks on hold

Increased costs have postponed Elburn's ongoing sidewalk program until next spring.

Village officials had selected areas of town for new sidewalks, and had asked for bids from several local contractors as part of their four-year-old program to give more neighborhoods sidewalks, and to repair damaged ones.

However, a noticeable increase in cost for the new sidewalks compared to previous years, lead trustees to put the program on hold a few months.

"One square of sidewalk was $125. Now we're talking one square of sidewalk is $250," Elburn Village President James Willey said.

The lowest bid by West Chicago-based Triggi Construction was $92,300, which was $20,000 more than the village engineer's estimate.

"Labor and fuel material went up considerably and it's being reflected in this bid," Public Works Superintendent Art Sanchez told trustees Tuesday.

According to village officials, the sidewalk program is currently ahead of schedule, and a delay until spring will not set it back.

According to Sanchez, about 20 percent of the properties have yet to receive new sidewalks.

In addition, new sidewalks are planned as part of the pending repairs to First Street which will take place from North Street to the Elburn Community Center.

"In light of the facts that bids came in higher than anticipated, I don't think we're going to hurt ourselves by putting this off until spring," trustee Jeff Humm said.