A major yearlong road construction project in Glenview that has tested the patience of drivers for months is nearing completion and is expected to be finished on schedule and on budget, officials said.
“There has been a lot of construction in Glenview especially on main roads this summer,” said David Just, community engagement manager with the village.
“For the most part people have been really understanding,” he added. “We appreciate people’s patience because it can be a bit of a headache. But at the end of it, it’s a good thing. We’re investing in the village and improving the quality of life for people who live here.”
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One of the largest projects is the $3.8 million Chestnut Avenue road construction expansion started last summer, Just said. Once completed in October, Chestnut Avenue will be widened from two lanes to three, a center left turn lane will be added, with landscaped medians and tree plantings. There will also be storm sewer improvements, a multiuse path for cyclists and pedestrians, new lighting, a midblock crossing and intersection improvements at Tanglewood Drive. He said the project should be completed in October on schedule and on budget.
“It will definitely be a massive quality of life improvement for people traversing the roadway when it’s done,” Just said. “The intersection at Chestnut and Tanglewood . . . the geometry is being completely reconfigured to make it a safer and more efficient intersection.”
He said that a few weeks ago workers finished installing storm sewers on the north side of Chestnut beginning at Johns Drive working to the east, and that workers are installing new inlet structures in the curb line on the north side of Chestnut, that all the work is progressing from west to east, and last week a section of Chestnut between John’s Drive and Lehigh was temporarily closed for westbound traffic.
Just also said the village received $2.98 million of grant funding for the project from the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP)).
“We in Glenview have been really good about pursuing and seeking out grant funding whenever it’s available,” he said. “I think it’s critical for helping pay for these projects and for the sake of the taxpayer and finding other sources of funding is how we can help make life a little better.”
The village held numerous “town hall meetings” before planning ended and construction started to get residents input, and Just said that has been critical.
“I think the public really appreciate the opportunity to not only hear from us about what are doing and what the project entails and what it will look like when it’s done, it was also a chance to ask questions and to get facetime with the people who are doing the work,” he said. “We’re tried really hard over the course of the project to provide regular updates.”
“On Chestnut in particular we put out an update last week that the street was going to be completely shutdown for a certain window of time,” he added. “We’ve tried to be really diligent about giving people regular updates. Not only with an open house at the front end of the project but over the life of the project as well.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.