Dixon planning $1.5 million water main project on North Galena Avenue

DIXON – The city is making plans to replace 3,400 feet of water main on North Galena Avenue.

The City Council approved spending $80,000 Monday to have Willett Hofmann and Associates do the engineering work for the $1.5 million water main replacement expected later this year.

The project will run from Bradshaw Street to Fourth Avenue, Water Department Manager Matt Huyett said, and it will be funded with a loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

IEPA loans provide a low interest rate, partial loan forgiveness and extended payback periods through its revolving loan program. The city was granted a loan for more than $10 million in water improvement projects scheduled across 5 years.

Last year’s major water main replacement on South Galena Avenue was also part of the city’s IEPA loan plan.

Work on North Galena Avenue will be the city’s main water project this year, and it’s part of $2.13 million in capital projects budgeted for the water department, Public Works Director Matt Heckman said during a recent city budget meeting.

The city is expected to get $400,000 in loan forgiveness for the project, and next steps will be engineering work and going out to bid for construction.

As part of the contract, Willett Hofmann will oversee the bidding process, conduct pre-construction meetings, prepare IEPA loan documents and pay requests, set construction stakes to establish line and grade, and provide an inspector to observe the daily progress and quality of the contractors work.