Some local stalled street resurfacing projects starting up again as the strike that stymied the work throughout the Chicago area for nearly two months, has now been settled.
On July 26, members of Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers agreed to a new contract with the Chicago Area Aggregate Producers Association, halting a seven week strike at the state’s major quarries, where road materials including concrete and asphalt are produced.
This was welcome news in Glencoe, where resurfacing work was has been stalled since early June due to the labor impasse.
Now with the two sides agreeing to a new contract, work has restarted on the village’s 2022 plans to resurface nearly six miles of village streets over 20 different segments, according to village officials.
“In the next three weeks, work will include paving the final lift of asphalt on Harbor Street east of Green Bay Road, Keystone Court, Shoreline Court, Wentworth Avenue, Mary Street, Whitebridge Hill Road, Lake Street, Drexel Avenue, Oakdale Avenue, Skokie Lane South and North, Grove Street, Washington Avenue, Adams Avenue and Jefferson Avenue,” according to a village website updated posted late last week.
With students set to start the 2022-23 school year on August 25, the area near South School will be a priority in an effort to minimize disruptions once children return.
“Work will also begin on the remaining streets in the 2022 project around South School including Linden Avenue, Monroe Avenue, Lake Street, Harbor Street west of Green Bay Road and Madison Avenue, as well as Vernon Avenue from the south village limits to South Avenue,” the village website noted.
Over in Wilmette, Village Manager Michael Braiman reported the village’s annual road, alley reconstruction and brick renovation programs along Ouimette Way was delayed due to the strike.
He hopes to see crews back on the street soon with the strike being settled.
“Our team has already met this week to review and will continue to discuss next week as wait for additional information from our contractors,” Braiman wrote in an email to Pioneer Press.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.