Four Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) projects are in the works in Kewanee — but in different stages of development.
Work has finally begun on refurbishing West Sixth Street (Route 81) from Lexington Avenue to West Street. That project had been planned for years but encountered delays — such as difficulties with obtaining all the necessary right-of-way.
So far this spring, numerous trees were cut down on Sixth Street — mostly on the north side of the street, where a bicycle path is to be part of the project. The project won’t be completed until next year, as other preparations for paving will be carried out this summer.
As soon as school lets out for the summer, work should begin on a Safe Routes to School plan that will include street and sidewalk improvements along Lake Street near Belle Alexander School.
But a plan to restore four blocks’ worth of streets and sidewalks in the downtown hit a snag when the one bid the city received for the work was much higher than expected.
The city has received a $3 million state grant to rehab Main Street from First Street to Third Street, as well as the 100 block of West Second Street and the 200 block of North Tremont.
Mayor Gary Moore said the one bid the city received for the work was “much more than anticipated,” meaning the cost of the job would exceed the grant funds.
Council members suggested reducing the scope of the project, such as doing only the Main Street repairs this year.
J.D. Schulte, an engineer with Hutchison Engineering, said that might be possible, but it would be up to IDOT to decide.
Councilmen Adam Cernovich and Chris Colomer also suggested that a full repaving of Main Street, as called for the the project plans, might not be needed. They said the pavement along that stretch of the street is not in such bad condition.
And due to bureaucratic delays, no construction contract will be awarded this year for the renovation of West South Street from Tenney Street to Burlington Avenue.
The project has faced delays that, in one case, could be the city’s fault.
Schulte said his firm submitted engineering plans for the work to the city last July, but those plans weren’t sent along to IDOT until October — too late for construction bids to be sought last year.
He said it might be possible to get the South Street project ready for a bid-letting in September. But that would be too late for any actual work to be done this year.
Meanwhile, Public Works Director Chris Berry said city workers might be able to repair some of the worst potholes, and do some striping of the left-turn lane at Midland Road, this year.
