Water Main Construction Underway; Lane Closures Possible

Village officials are expecting possible lane closures this week as construction begins on the water main on Stephen Street.

The water main replacement is taking place on Stephen Street from Cass Street to the McCarthy Road curve.

According to Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves, the project is expected to take about a month to complete. Motorists are asked to use caution, as construction can lead to possible lane closures.

In its first meeting of 2011, the Lemont Village Board formalized its intent to use $80,000 in federal funds to pay for the project. An agreement was made with Cook County for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which is distributed to Cook County municipalities by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Using the funds, the village will be able replace 300 feet of existing six-inch water mains on Stephen Street with new 10-inch pipes for a total cost of $150,000.

The CDBG program is intended to be used for projects that enhance the public good. Money can be used for such improvements as water and sewer enhancement, energy conservation, job creation and economic development.

In the next few weeks, work is also expected to begin to replace a water main on New Avenue from Timberline Drive to State Street. The work will begin on Timberline and move east, according to village officials.

As part of the project, a water main will also be replaced on Illinois Street from Lockport to State streets. The project is expected to be completed by the end of September.