Work Planned On Key La Grange Street

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange plans to replace the water main on Brainard Avenue, a project that is expected to last from early June to Thanksgiving.

The work will be on Brainard from 47th Street to just north of Ogden Avenue, officials said. The existing water main was installed in 1920.

The construction is planned in three phases. The first one is next to Lyons Township High School, while the school is out of session.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Rick Colby, the village's public works director, said closures would be minimal, given that the work will mostly be in the parking lane.

For the most part, Colby said, "There should be enough room for one directional traffic, if not two."

At the meeting, the board unanimously approved a $3.8 million bid from La Grange Park-based Suburban General. The only other bidder, Millennium Contracting, failed to complete its bid package, officials said.

Suburban General's bid was $760,000 higher than the estimated construction cost. The increase was attributed to inflation, escalating costs for certain items and higher demand for plumbing trades.

The village's engineer advised against rebidding the project, saying it would not result in better prices.

Using federal money, the village plans to resurface Brainard next spring, Colby said.