Kirchoff Road resurfacing in Rolling Meadows closer to reality

The long-planned resurfacing of Kirchoff Road between Hicks and New Wilke roads in Rolling Meadows is closer to becoming reality, officials say, but not before the approval of additional agreements and the project goes out to bid.

"I can remember being a new alderman sitting down in your office 5½ years ago, and you smiled at me when I said we're going to get this road done next year," Mayor Len Prejna told Public Works Director Fred Vogt at this week's city council meeting.

Vogt said planning for the project is going well - involving city, state and federal agencies - despite years of delays.

The city council on Aug. 14 is expected to vote on a funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation that formalizes the commitment of federal dollars to the project, with the Federal Highway Administration agreeing to pay 80 percent of construction costs - up to $1.5 million - and the city covering the rest.

The city engineer estimates total costs to be $2.3 million, meaning the city would be on the hook for $811,000, but Vogt expects bid prices to be favorable because bidding will take place in November, when contractors are trying to secure large jobs for the following year.

The work includes not only the resurfacing of 1.75 miles of the main thoroughfare through the city's downtown and upgrades to the bridge over Salt Creek, but also reconfiguring medians under Route 53 and replacement of underground traffic signal loops at intersections.

Those additional projects were originally set to be completed separately, as IDOT wouldn't allow them to be included, but that has since changed, Vogt said.

City officials hope to realize better bid prices by including the extra projects and also hope to use some of the federal money to pay for them.

Construction is planned for spring 2019.