County considering Bunkum Road construction contract, other projects
Road work along Bunkum Road could begin as soon as late August or the beginning of September, according to the St. Clair County Highway Department.
The county is recommending Baxmeyer Construction Inc. out of Waterloo carry out the project for $5.76 million. Engineers estimated the project would cost $5.87 million.
Members of the County Board’s Transportation Committee earlier this week recommended the full board approve the contract at its July 27 meeting.
Work, which is expected to take place into next summer, is planned to include reconstructing the current 3-mile stretch of Bunkum Road from Illinois 111 in Washington Park to Illinois 157 in Caseyville with an asphalt surface. The road surface is currently oil-and-chip and has lots of truck traffic.
Curb-and-gutter installation is planned for both ends of the project. The road also is planned to be widened to 24 feet. It currently is 20 to 22 feet wide. There also would be 8-foot shoulders.
“It is an improvement,” said Jim Fields, the county engineer.
The county also is moving along with plans for another road improvement.
Work at three intersections along Frank Scott Parkway is scheduled to go to a bid opening in August, Fields said. The county plans on widening Frank Scott Parkway where it intersects with Old Collinsville Road, Hartman Lane and North Green Mount Road.
The project estimate is about $5.2 million, with about $3 million coming from local sources and the rest coming from federal congestion mitigation air quality grant funds distributed by Illinois Department of Transportation, Fields said.
The county also is looking to obtain needed right-of-way for an eventual widening of Frank Scott Parkway from Route 159 to North Green Mount Road. The county has begun discussions with landowners, Fields said. The County Board is considering a resolution to formally begin making offers to landowners.
Plans for widening the road are expected to be completed by July 2016, Fields said.
Contact reporter Joseph Bustos at jbustos@bnd.com or 618-239-2451. Follow him on Twitter: @JoeBReporter.
This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 9:23 AM with the headline "County considering Bunkum Road construction contract, other projects."