Water main fixed, but odd 'speed bump' remains in Palatine

A broken water main that lifted a section of Northwest Highway in Palatine has been fixed, but the odd bump in the road it spawned might not be going away soon, according to the village's Public Works Department.

Department Director Matt Barry said the bump, which lifted the two westbound lanes of Northwest Highway near Glencoe Road, was created when the water that escaped the broken water main froze and expanded underneath the road.

Barry said as long as freezing temperatures remain, so will the impromptu speed bump.

“As the frost leaves, the pavement expansion should go away,” Barry said. “Ideally we will not have to remove a 40- by 40-square-foot section of pavement.”

Barry spoke about the bump during the Palatine village council's meeting Monday night, just hours after his department fixed the water main. Traffic along the busy road was reduced to one lane to accommodate workers.

The bump will likely be gradually flattened by the combined forces of traffic and warmer weather.

“We are letting Mother Nature take its course,” Barry said.

Despite those natural fixes, Barry said he expects the village will have to conduct additional repairs to the road in the spring.

Signs have been posted urging drivers to use caution.