PROJECT OVERVIEW

The proposed alignment of Illinois Route 31 (Western Algonquin Bypass) will be located on the existing Toastmaster¸ Prairie Trail Oasis, and Algonquin Roadhouse properties. Due to manufacturing that took place at the Toastmaster site, the presence of heavy metals was found in the soil during the Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA) and Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) that were conducted by the Department. In order to acquire these parcels, additional testing and coordination with the Illinois Environmental Agency (IEPA) was required.

This acquisition became the controlling factor in the project schedule.

In order to build the proposed improvement, four (4) contracts were planned to be let; Hazardous Materials Mitigation, Building Demolition, Mass Grading, and Roadway Construction. Advance contracts for building demolition and Toastmaster site hazardous materials mitigation have been awarded and completed. The Mass grading contract was awarded to Ryan Incorporated on April 23, 2012 and is scheduled to be completed November 30, 2012. The Roadway Contract was let for bids on the June 15, 2012 letting; the project was awarded to F.H. Paschen on July 30, 2012.  The project is targeted to be completed on July 31, 2014.

The Roadway Contract (Contract 60F72) consists of the construction of the new four lane divided highway and diamond interchange for the Western Algonquin Bypass. With this, portions of existing IL Route 31, Huntington Drive and Algonquin Road will be widened and resurfaced or reconstructed to accommodate the new alignment. This work includes both hot –mix asphalt pavement and P.C. Concrete pavement. It will also include four new bridges, retaining walls, noise walls, new traffic signals, roadway lighting, the relocation of sanitary sewer and water main, pavement markings, the relocation of Crystal Creek, landscaping and restoration.