2nd Street Closed to Vehicles Today

2nd Street will be closed today until early afternoon to all vehicles. The contractor is installing a water service across the street (the main is on the west side of 2nd). Pedestrians are still able to use the sidewalk. The road will be reopened by the end of the work day.

Done with the unexpected...hopefully

Well, after a wonderful week in Spain, I came back to find out that there were more basement foundation walls than expected. As of yesterday (Wednesday), we've removed all that needs to be removed. What we did was cut down the walls to a foot below subgrade (subgrade = the bottom of everything new that is being put in).

Now that all of that is done, the contractor is going to continue with storm sewer removal and relocating the existing fire hydrant. Storm sewer installation will start soon and once that is complete, site grading will begin.

One Week Look Ahead

The contractor has continued removing the pavement from the parking lot. This has turned out to be quite the task! Those concrete walls that were about 3' high lining Palmer Court had a foundation 4' x 4'!!! There are some big holes in the lot now. Plus we found the basement walls of the old building that used to be around. It's been quite interesting.

The contractor will continue pavement removal and then start leveling out the lot. Storm sewer removal and installation will follow soon after that.

I will be out of the country next week, so Robert Hallock will be filling in for me. He'll be in the field office if you need him.

Pavement Removal Has Begun

The contractor began removing the asphalt pavement in the parking lot today.

Progress

The light poles were removed today and the exterior fence was installed. It's really starting to look like a construction site now!

I have a field office phone number now: 815-756-2319 However, I don't have an answering machine yet, so if you call and I don't answer, I'm most likely outside. Try back later.

Tree Removal and Week Schedule

In case you haven't been by the site yet today, tree removal has begun! All the trees (less three along Palmer Ct near 2nd Street) will be removed. But don't worry, there are just as many trees be planted once the lot is complete!

The current schedule (weather permitting...please remember, any schedule is ALWAYS weather permitting in this line of work) is to remove light poles tomorrow and continue with removing the lot by the end of this week.

The ground breaking ceremony was this morning and went very well! Thanks to all who came; we had a great turnout!

Temporary Bike Rack

We are currently in the works to place a temporary bike rack on the site to accommodate for removing two existing racks. Until the temp rack is placed, and for during construction, there are bike racks located on 3rd at Locust and on 2nd between Locust and Lincoln Hwy. Once the temporary bike rack is placed, I will be sure to post that location.