Construction could begin on the new parking deck near Hinsdale Middle School as early as Monday.
“Right now we think that’s going to be the starting date,” said Brad Bloom, assistant village manager.
The first step will be to remove an earth retention system crafted of corrugated metal panels, which requires the use of a loud, vibrating machine.
“We’re trying to get that done before school is in session,” Bloom told trustees at the village board meeting Tuesday. The first day of school in Community Consolidated Elementary District 181 is Friday, Aug. 23.
The construction firm, Wight and Co., will then begin excavation for and installation of a stormwater detention vault.
An agreement with the Tollway Authority will allow the village to transport excavated dirt to the infield in the northeast clover leaf of Interstate 294 and Ogden Avenue for use in the Tri-State expansion project.
“We’re happy to have the tollway agree to this. It provides us some considerable savings,” Bloom said.
Crews will complete as much work as they can on the parking deck before winter intervenes.
“Right now the plan is to continue construction as late as we can, weather dependent,” Bloom said. “The goal is to have the precast in before the frigid temperatures hit.
“If it’s a mild winter, they might not have to stop at all, so we are hoping for a mild winter,” he added.
The tentative timeline, which includes a month during which construction will be on hold, shows a June 2020 completion date.
The project will cost the village no more than $8,465,329, according to the guaranteed maximum price supplied by Wight and Co.
“Everything has been bid out except the landscaping, and we’re waiting for more seasonal timing to put that bid out,” Bloom said.
Village and District 181 officials met Tuesday to discuss site management and safety issues. A safety plan will be finished by the time school opens.
“We’re going to be adding a crossing guard at First and Washington and closing the sidewalk off that’s adjacent to the parking deck during construction for safety reasons,” Bloom said.
Residents will able to read weekly updates, offer feedback and ask questions on a new section of the village’s website at https://www.villageofhinsdale.org dedicated to the parking deck construction.
“Hopefully it will be up this week,” Bloom said.
After months of delays, the village is looking forward to moving forward.
“We’re anxious to get started on this and get this done,” Bloom said.
