In the final stretch of the downtown Naperville streetscape project, construction crews are racing to get most of the Jefferson Avenue work completed before Labor Day weekend and Monday’s parade.
Bill Novack, director of Transportation, Engineering and Development for the city, said the contractor has been working hard to get as much done as possible before the holiday weekend.
In the short-term, the bricks on the south side of Jefferson should be installed by the end of the week and was to start Thursday on Main Street and Jefferson Avenue, he said.
Although the city authorized overtime for the contractor, Novack said the brickwork on the north side of Jefferson Avenue might not be finished before the weekend.
The plan is to have the street finished so the parade can march down Jefferson Avenue, he said.
But the street itself won’t be open to vehicles for a couple of weeks because it’s easier for the contractor to work to finish bricking the sidewalks and putting the final touches on the streetscape amenities without worrying about traffic and people parking near construction areas, Novack said.
Looking ahead, the city still has work to complete on Webster Street.
Downtown Naperville has been a construction zone since March.
The work above and below ground entails removing and replacing water mains and service lines, pavement, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, brick pavers and streetlights.
Also included are new raised planters, streetscape furniture and landscaping.
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Novack said the contractor would be done by now had there not been unforeseen underground utility issues.
The city also added amenities like a planter and seating on the north side of Jefferson Avenue in front of the Chico’s store at 131 W. Jefferson Ave., he said.
In February, the city hired Addison-based R.W. Dunteman Co. to perform the contracting work at a cost of $4.9 million, which will be shared between the city and property owners in the construction area.
Naperville will pay for 60% and the remaining 40% will be reimbursed to the city through a special tax added to property tax bills over the next 15 years.