Joliet plans 15 water main projects this year throughout city

Water main projects slated for 2025 will affect traffic in 15 neighborhoods and on some of Joliet’s major roads.

Broadway Street, Black Road and Railroad Street are a few of the roads where work will be done this year. New water mains also will go into the northern section of downtown.

The $68 million that Joliet will spend on 30 miles of water main replacements this year is the latest expenditure on a program to replace all water mains built before 1970.

“This is a commitment we made to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources when we secured our allotment of Lake Michigan water,” Joliet Utilities Director Allison Swisher told the City Council last week when contracts were approved for the 2025 work.

Joliet is replacing its oldest water mains as it tries to reduce leaks and meet a standard for Lake Michigan water recipients as the city prepares for lake water in 2030.

The city will send a mailing in early March to all addresses adjacent to water main construction with information about the projects. An open house on the water main program will be held 5-7 p.m. on March 19 at the Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant Administration Building, 815 Adler St.

Meanwhile, the city’s website, joliet.gov, contains detailed descriptions and maps of each project area. The information can be found in the Construction Zone section on the Public Utilities page.

The first projects start March 15, although several will begin in the ensuing months.

Where the work will be done

• Twin Oaks – Water mains will be replaced in an area east of Essington Road. Streets involved in the project are Twin Oaks Drive, Deer Path Drive, Heritage Drive and Robert Court.

Schedule: March 15-June 23

Contract: M&J Underground Inc. for $2 million

• Glenwood Manor – Work includes: Black Road from Brentwood Drive to Apollo Drive; Gael Drive from Ingalls Avenue to Black Road; Tana Lane to Glenwood Avenue; and sections of Apollo Drive, Prestige Street, Homestead Place and Douglas Street.

Schedule: March 15-Sept. 11

Contract: Len Cox & Sons Excacating for $5.4 million

• Virginia Phase 1 – The project includes sections of Maple and East Jackson streets along with areas of East Benton, Wenberg and Virginia streets near Maple.

Schedule: March 15-June 3

Contract: PT Ferro Construction for $2 million

• Broadway Street – This project will have the biggest impact on traffic, since it involves construction on a major entry route to Joliet. It’s also the biggest single contract among the 15 being done this year. The city will replace a water main running from Theodore Street to Ruby Street in a job that includes a section of North Hickory Street and other adjacent streets.

Schedule: April 1-Sept. 28

Contract: Austin Tyler Construction for $10.5 million

• North Downtown – The project includes much of the north end of downtown. Work will be done on Joliet and Scott streets and the area in between, running as far north as Ruby Street and south to Jackson Street. North Chicago Street and a section of Ottawa Street is included.

Schedule: April 1-Nov. 27

Contract: D Construction for $7.3 million

• Reedwood Phase 3 – The project includes Wheeler Avenue between Morgan and West Park Front streets. It includes sections of Fisk Avenue, Jasper Street, Cottage Place and West Park Front Street, and all of Millboro Place.

Schedule: April 1-Aug. 29

Contract: Len Cox & Sons Excavating for $3.7 million

• Krings Acres Phase 2B – The project covers an area between Ingalls Avenue and Black Road. Roads include Alann Drive, Krings Lane and Plaza Drive.

Schedule: April 1-July 30

Contract: Brandt Excavating for $2.6 million

• Emerald Lawns Phase 1 – This project is west of Plainfield Road, running between Ingalls Avenue and Black Road. It includes Catherine Street and sections of Clara, Barthelme, Oregon, Lemorr, Wagner, Kenmore, Roosevelt, Vernon and Dellmar avenues.

Schedule: May 1-Oct. 28

Contract: Austin Tyler Construction for $5.7 million

• Hickory Creek – Hickory Creek is on the west end of this project, which runs east to Union Street. East Washington Street is on the north and 4th Avenue on the south. Other streets involved in the project are Mississippi Avenue, Iowa Avenue, Wilson Avenue, 1st Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Grant Avenue, Albert Avenue and Newton Place.

Schedule: May 1-Oct. 28

Contract: Airy’s Inc for $4.6 million

• Marquette Park – The project includes the Marquette Park area encircled by Marquette Road. It also runs along Woodlawn Avenue to Jefferson Street.

Schedule: May 1-Oct. 28

Contract: Camco Inc. for $4.8 million

• Upper Bluff – This project covers a section of the Cathedral Area that runs from Taylor Street on the north, Western Avenue on the south, Center Street on the east, and Wilcox Street on the west. Streets within the project include Buell, Whitney, Dixon, Carson, Brooks and Woodworth avenues as well as Nicholson Street.

Schedule: June 1-Dec. 28

Contract: Austin Tyler Construction for $5.7 million

• North Prairie – The project is within a triangular area bordered on the west by Plainfield Road, north by Ingalls Avenue and east by North Prairie Avenue. Roads in the project include Williams, Frederick and May streets as well as Waverly Place.

Schedule: June 1-Oct. 29

Contract: Austin Tyler Construction for $4.8 million

• Midland and Campbell – Work will be done on Midland Avenue between Campbell and Jefferson streets and on Campbell between Woodlawn and North Prairie avenues.

Schedule: July 1-Oct. 29

Contract: Len Cox and Sons Excavating for $3.9 million .

• Highland Phase 2 – Project includes Parkwood Drive from Maple Road to Basswood Roads. It also takes in all of Bogdan Lane, Cottonwood Drive and Beechwood Road.

Schedule: July 1-Sept. 29

Contract: Airy’s Inc. for $2.6 million

• Railroad Street – The project includes Railroad Street north of the railroad bridge that crosses the Des Plaines River and North Bluff Street south of Jefferson Street.

Schedule: Aug. 1-Oct. 30

Contract: PT Ferro Construction for $2.6 million