West Cook News

During its April 24 meeting, the La Grange Village Board of Trustees approved a contract for a water main improvement project on Brainard Avenue from 47th Street to north of Ogden Street.

The contract is with Suburban General Construction Inc. Trustees noted that the water main dates back a century and has reached the end of its usefulness.

“The water main is approximately 100 years old and has reached the end of its useful life,” Trustee Tim O’Brien said in the meeting. “Suburban General Inc. was the only bidder submitting a complete proposal and award of this contract, as recommended by the Village's consultant engineer Baxter and Woodman.”

During the meeting, Public Works Director Richard Kolby told trustees that the project’s price was 30% more than initially expected, and trustees approved the contract even with the increased cost.

“The higher-than-anticipated cost is attributed to the project's complexity associated with working on Brainard Avenue with greater traffic density and scheduling and phasing requirements imposed to minimize as much as possible impact on local schools and the community, as well as the technical complexity associated with coordinating borings under the BNSF Railroad Crossing,” Kolby said. He also noted that the labor and supply costs were higher than anticipated because of increased demand for parts and skilled labor.

It also was noted during the meeting that work will begin after the Pep Day Parade on June 5 and is expected to be done in advance of planned paving of the roads in 2024, with work near the school and railroad to be completed first.

“The commuter rail should be open for pedestrian traffic,” Kolby said. “The railroad will have to be closed to vehicle traffic at periods during the morning.”

Kolby stated that work is expected to be completed by late November, and access for residents and traffic flow will be maintained, though a block could be closed at times during the project.