Joliet OKs $68 million for another 30 miles of water main replacements

The Joliet City Council on Tuesday approved $68 million in contracts to replace 30 miles of water main in 15 sections of the city.

The projects this year mark another round of water main replacements in an ongoing program that has had widespread impact on neighborhoods with aging infrastructure.

“People say. Why don’t we do this a little at a time?” Councilman Cesar Cardenas said. “This is a little at a time.”

Joliet has 685 miles of water mains.

The city is replacing all water mains built before 1970 to create a more leak-proof system as Joliet prepares to convert to Lake Michigan water in 2030.

“This is a commitment we made to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources when we received our allotment of Lake Michigan water,” Utilities Director Allison Swisher told the council.

Prodded by the state agency, Joliet stepped up water main replacements to 30 miles a year in 2024 from a previous rate of 20 miles a year.

The city’s rate of water loss has remained above 30% as it strives to reach a standard of 10% set for communities that get Lake Michigan water.

The city will send out letters to residents in areas affected by the water main projects before construction starts in April. Some projects will start later in the summer.

A city open house on the 2025 projects will be held in March at a date yet to be set.

Answering questions from the council, Swisher said all contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders.

Fifteen contracts were awarded. Eight different companies got contracts.

The biggest street where work will be done in 2025 is a section of Broadway Street running between Theodore and Ruby streets. The Broadway project also is the most expensive single project totaling $10.5 million. Austin Tyler Construction will do the job.

Other areas of the city where water main work will be done include the north downtown area, Glenwood Manor, the Upper Bluff neighborhood, Marquette Park, Twin Oaks and Reedwood.

Swisher said project sites are selected each year based on age and “on the frequency of water main breaks” in that area.

The Public Utilities page on the city website has a Construction Zone section that will post the projects with a map marking specific streets where work will be done. The site will provide updates on each project throughout the year.