2 Road Projects Planned In Western Springs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – These days, Western Springs has the gas tax to pay for road projects, according to the village. But it has no other regular income source for such work.

Next year, the village plans to resurface two streets using the gas tax:

• Hampton Avenue, from Hillgrove to Ogden avenues (estimated cost: $206,000)
• 45th Street, from Wolf Road to Gilbert Avenue (estimated cost: $430,000)

Western Springs has no road construction projects planned next year that would be paid for from its main roadway account. That's because the village has no current funding source, John Mastandona, the village's finance director, said at Monday's Village Board meeting.

A year ago, Mastandona made a similar statement about the village's road situation.

"The funds have been depleted," he said at the time.

The last successful referendum to pay for streets was passed eight years ago. Now, the village is considering putting a property tax hike on the April 1 ballot. This would pay for local infrastructure.