Waukegan residents and visitors who want to avoid road construction delays have an online ally — the city’s road construction portal which they can access from a computer or smartphone.
Showing past, current and future resurfacing and reconstruction projects, the portal lets individuals know with a click or a touch the precise location of the project and whether it is underway, planned or completed.
“It helps people know where construction is taking place, but it’s also helpful for people to understand when a street or road (they frequent) is in the process of being done or may be done,” according to David Motley, the city’s director of public relations.
The construction portal became operational in 2022 on Waukegan’s municipal website, making information about the city’s past, current and future roadwork projects readily accessible to anyone interested.
A look at the portal lets people know about the 14 projects underway or planned this year, as well as 25 planned for 2025. Jesus Alquicira, the city’ engineer, said some of the projects planned for next year could happen sooner if circumstances allow.
“Sometimes we’re able to do more than we expect to do,” he said. “We may be able to do some of the 2025 projects this year.”
Before launching the project, Alquicira said his department was charged with developing a transparent way to let residents and others know the status of roadwork in the city. An attempt was made to capture as much information as possible, and display it simply.
“Someone using it can learn the ward it is in, and how many miles of work is being done,” he said.
Among the projects depicted on the portal, people can glean that a road may be resurfaced, rebuilt, curbs restored, sidewalks installed or tweaked, gutters refurbished and manholes adjusted.
Reconstruction of a road is more complex and takes longer than resurfacing. Alquicira said a determination is made after the condition of the surface, and some of what lies beneath it, are examined.
“We mill and grind the top surface layer and replace the asphalt,” he said in explaining resurfacing. “We fix the curbs if they are broken and do the ADA ramps.”
When a road needs to be rebuilt, Alquicira said it takes more time because the entire road is removed, drainage is adjusted if necessary and then all layers are poured.
Motley said projects scheduled for this year are part of the $39.4 million allocated for capital improvements contained in the city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting May 1.
A nearly three-quarters-of-a-mile stretch of Butrick Street, between Washington Street and Grand Avenue, is the longest section of roadwork being done this year, according to information on the portal.
On the south side of Waukegan, work is underway on an 887-foot stretch of 11th Street, and will start this year on a nearly half-mile portion of 8th Parkway between McAree and Dugdale roads. Another south-side project will see McAlister Avenue reworked between 10th Street and George avenues.
Further north, a 3,400-foot section of Ash Street, between Grand and Ridgeland avenues, is getting repaired. Approximately a quarter-mile of Elmwood, between Hyde Park and Grand avenues, will get attention.
Other projects slated this year are on Cornelia Avenue, Franklin Street, Hamilton Court, Judge Avenue, Lydia Street, Berwick Boulevard and Partridge Street.
