155th Street resurfacing is underway
Concrete, sidewalk, curb and gutter work is complete on 155th Street. Beginning next week, the contractor will begin making roadway base repairs and preparing the street for paving. Weather permitting, the contractor expects to be putting the final surface layer on the roadway by the end of the first week in August.
Construction to install or improve sidewalks in the neighborhood adjacent to the Metra train station at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue has been temporarily haulted on LaPorte Avenue while Nicor evaluates a gas line issue. Work is continuing, as weather permits, on Lavergne from 155th Street to 158th Street. Sidewalk construction on Lavergne Avenue from 151st to 155th Street, Lacrosse Avenue from 151st Street to 153rd Street and Leclaire Avenue from 151st Street to 158th Street is complete.
Public Works has received several calls from residents asking if sidewalks are being installed on both sides of the street as part of this project. The federal grant funding is for one side only. The intent of the project is to connect the streets shown at right (dashed lines) to provide pedestrian access to the sidewalk network and commuter train station.
167th Street construction is moving along
Cook County crews have completed construction on the south side of the street. On Friday, August 7, crews will reopen the south side of the street and close the north side to begin construction on the other side of the street. Drivers pulling out of the Gingerwood subdivision or off Forest Avenue should be advised that they will be pulling into live lanes of traffic on Friday.
Cicero Avenue Streetscape nearing completion
You may have noticed quite a bit of construction along  Cicero Avenue between the Metra bridge and 155th Street. Public Works and the Community Development Departments have teamed up to bring a new streetscape to town. This week, hanging flower baskets were added to the pedestrian light poles. Next, as weather permits, concrete sealer will be applied to the newly installed decorative stamped concrete pavers. Later this summer, benches and planters will be added to the area. Phase two of the project will include similar enhancements from the Cicero Avenue viaduct to the 159th Street viaduct. The streetscape project was funded by a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.
The 2009 Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program has begun in the El Vista West subdivision. New walks have been put in on the south side of Vine and the west side of Menard. Next week, the crew will drop back to its starting point and begin working on the north side of Vine and east side of Menard. Work will progress as weather permits. Residents will be given 24-hour notice before any sidewalk is removed in front of their driveways. The city is replacing nearly 650 squares of sidewalk to eliminate trip or safety hazards. The rehabilitation program replaces structurally defective or badly damaged walking surfaces. If the weather cooperates, the project should be completed by the end of October. 
Street patching
The Public Works Department has been busy patching streets this summer. To date, crews have patched the following streets:
Chaucer from Geoffrey to 152nd Street
Oxford from Vine to 151st Street
Los Robles from Forestview to Catalina
LaPalm Drive from Central to Mission
Massasoit from Grange to Fern
Patching will begin soon on the following streets:
Lamon Avenue from 153rd Street to 156th Street
Forest from 167th Street to Sycamore Lane
Salt building
The city's new salt building, which sits directly south of the Public Works facility at 157th and Lorel Avenue is finished. The first load of salt should arrive the first week of October. The 61-foot diameter geodesic dome with 10-feet high concrete wall can hold 1,800 tons of salt.
Road Program is finished!
The 2009 Road Program is finished! Landscape and parkway restoration will begin shortly, as weather permits.
Questions?
For more information on any of these programs or projects, please contact Public Works at 708-535-4090 or complete the online service request form.
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