How many trees will be removed during the project?
The decision to remove trees is not something the City takes lightly. The City has been a Tree City USA for 39 years which is a testament to our high standards for tree preservation, investment, maintenance and care. The Clavey Road Project will entail the removal of 148 trees of various sizes or species (79 trees for the reconstruction of the road and 69 for the additional lane during construction). No Heritage, Grove or Oak trees are planned to be removed. The removal of the trees is balanced with the consideration to provide two lanes of traffic for public safety purposes and to manage the traffic flow along this major corridor in our community.
City Forester Dr. Keith O’Herrin evaluated all trees considered for removal and found nearly all to be small and young/juvenile trees. The large old oak trees in front of Kennedy Park will be preserved. Upon completion of construction, the City will beautify the corridor by replacing the former trees with new large shade tree species, ornamental trees such as crabapple and Japanese tree lilac, and native shrubs and prairie wildflowers.
Will there be disruption of water service when the watermain is replaced?
Replacement of the watermain will cause minimal service disruptions to residents and businesses. When a service line from a property is disconnected from old main and connected to new main, a short period (approximately 2 - 3 hours) of water shut-off will occur to perform the work. The City will provide notification to each property owner in advance of the service disruption. In addition, the City will provide door tags to notify those affected of the shutdown.
Will there be disruption of electric service when ComEd replaces the poles?
A disruption in electrical service is not anticipated as part of the relocation of the ComEd poles for the Clavey Road Project. ComEd has built-in redundancy in their electrical grid system to allow them to make repairs or relocate poles or upgrade service without disruption of power to customers. If there is a disruption, and the City is notified, we will relay the message to the residents. It is important for residents in the immediate vicinity to sign up for email notification. If you would like to be added to the email list or have any questions or feedback, please reach out to Manny Gomez, P.E. at egomez@cityhpil.com or 847.432.0807.
Will the road be plowed in the winter season?
Yes. The City will continue to perform all snow removal operations during construction or any winter shut down period.
What are the construction hours for the project?
Per City Ordinance, construction hours are from 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday –Friday and from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday. No work is allowed on Sundays or major holidays including Jewish holidays. Permission to work outside these restricted hours is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if the request is warranted.
Will access Into Larkspur Drive or around from Aspen Lane always be available?
Access into Larkspur Drive and Aspen Lane will be maintained during construction.
Are there any takings of private land to accommodate the road widening?
No. Right of way acquisition is not included in the Clavey Road Project. All improvements are to be built in the public right of way.
Where will the sidewalk for pedestrian traffic be located? To north or south of temporary roadway? How close will this be to traffic?
For majority of the construction phase, the sidewalk will be located on south side. During the bridge replacement work, the sidewalk will be shifted. During all times, the pedestrians/bicyclists will be protected with the traffic by providing physical barrier or being located at a safe distance from edge of roadway. Learn more about pedestrian/bicyclist safety under Traffic Management.
