Where Did September Go?

Where did September go?
Wow this month has flown by, but we have continued to make great progress. The underground conduit is now all in on the south side of Locust and we are preparing to lay binder course. We will be preparing to move the north side very soon.

Here is what things are shaping up to look like this week on Locust St:

This week they will finish pouring the concrete curb and start laying down the binder level of blacktop. Please note the intersections of 2nd and 3rd as well as drive's at NB&T and PNC Bank will all be done 1/2 at a time to allow for continuous access to these drives. There are a few other drives along this stretch that are too narrow to allow for a 1/2 and 1/2 pour or have alternate entrances(in the case of the Van Buer Plaza). These drive pours will be coordinated with the property owner.

Up next on the south side will be pouring of the sidewalk and underlayment and the installation of planter walls and other materials. As a reminder - the utility poles WILL NOT BE REMOVED until next spring. ComEd, Verizon and Comcast will be working over the winter to pull new cables through the conduit that has been installed and will work with each customer to arrange the switch over’s. Poles will be removed once the weather breaks in the spring. This means that there will be section of sidewalk that cannot be poured because the poles need to remain. We will fill these sections with gravel to allow for continuous passage over the winter.

The goal is to have Locust open for 2 way traffic just in time for the downtown Hollyday open house!

Here is where things stand on Lincoln Highway:

Contractor is installing crosswalks this week at intersection of 1st, 2nd and 3rd. No road closure will occur. Last bit of work to be completed is the installation of the materials in the Pedestrian Pass Thru including benches, handrail, and gates.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact The City of Dekalb Engineering Department at 815-748-2000 or Re:New DeKalb at 815-748-7788.

Two more things

First, we forgot to mention that contractors are working on installing the thermoplast cross walks at the intersections of 2nd and 3rd on all 4 sides. This week they are grinding out the old cross walk paint. Next week they will begin stamping in the thermo plast. No road closures will be needed at 2nd, 3rd or on Lincoln. They will do half a section at a time on 2nd and 3rd. Then on Lincoln they will do the outer lanes and center lanes to keep traffic flowing.

Second, we were just informed that the contractors will be trenching across 3rd St tommorrow (Friday, Sept 10) in the morning. Traffic will be diverted from 3rd to Palmer. Work will be done by 11 a.m.

update as of September 9, 2010

Things got even messier this week, but we have made great progress as well. A couple of entrances along E. Locust were blocked for a few hours here and there. Appologies for the lack of advance notification. Hopefully the communication gliche has been fixed. As we have noted in the past, there will be spot closures from time to time to allow for the removal of road and sidewalk and longer closures once the concrete has been poured to allow for drying. Those closures should be coordinated with business owners. Random spot closures may occur from time to time to allow equipment to be moved and so on.


Please note starting on Saturday, September 18 the construction work will take place 6-days a week including Saturdays.

Here is a look at where things stand into next week:

Locust Street:

1st to 2nd - sidewalk/road removal is complete in this area. Stone will be put in and other grading work. Next week they will be framing and pouring curbs!

2nd - 3rd - Utility work is still underway in this block. Some excavation work got underway today, but more utility work to be done in this block.

3rd- 4th - removal of sidewalk and road is underway.

Lincoln Highway:

Lights should be complete this week. Landscaping will be coming on Monday, September 13, 2010. Benches should be next week as well. Last portion is the fence and handrail in the pass thru.

If you have questions please call Re:New DeKalb at 815-748-7788.

Let there be Lights...on Lincoln

More progress on Lincoln and Locust. Here is an update of where things stand as of Friday, September 3, 2010:

Lincoln Highway

The final lighting elements arrived for the lighting fixtures on Lincoln Highway and are currently being installed. Most of the lighting should be compelted by the middle of next week. Lights are installed in the pedestrian pass thru. Street furnishings and landscaping is still to come, but will be done by the end of September.

Locust Street

1st to 2nd
Conduit is on on south side and road/sidewalk has been removed. Grading work will begin next week.

2nd to 3rd.
Conduit work has begun. Road removal is not completed yet. A large utility cabinet needs to be installed between the entrance to the Van Buer Plaza and the drive for NB&T. This will require brick removal and disruption of a landscape bed, but all materials will be replaced upon completion of the work.

3rd to 4th
Road removal is nearly done. Tuesday Sept 7 the contractors will remove the remaining road and sidewalk from PNC Bank drive thru to 4th St. Bank drive will be removed one half at a time to alow for access at all times. Utility work will follow on Wed.

If you have any questions please call the City of DeKalb Engineering Dept at 815-748-2000 Jennifer Groce at Re:New DeKalb at 815-748-7788.