O’Fallon construction round up
O’Fallon
Second Street
Patience.
That will be the slogan this summer as the city plans to start the first of two major road construction projects on Second Street in downtown O'Fallon.
Under the first phase, O'Fallon is planning to reconstruct one block of West Second Street from North Lincoln Avenue, according to Public Works Director Jeff Taylor.
Next summer, O'Fallon is planning to reconstruct one block of East Second Street from Cherry Street.
Taylor said both sections of Second Street, are in equally bad shape.
“It is to the point where it needs to be completely reconstructed,” he said.
Taylor projected both phases will cost around $500,000 to complete.
“The city broke the project into two phases to keep the cost manageable,” he said.
Taylor said business along Second Street are expected to remain open during both phases of the reconstruction.
In addition to resurfacing Second Street, the project will include removing and replacing sections of poor sidewalk and curb and gutter,and updating pedestrian ramps to meet requirements for the disabled, he said.
And the sooner the work is started, the sooner West Second Street will be done.
“You'll still be able to get everywhere,” Taylor said. “Second Street will remain open in both directions during construction.”
It might just take a little more driving time — and patience.
Pedestrian, Bicycle Improvements
An informational meeting will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Thurs., April 28 in the O’Fallon City Hall council chambers at 255 S. Lincoln Ave. to answer questions regarding the proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements to Lincoln Avenue, State Street and the Illini Bike Trail.
“Please plan to attend this informational meeting. Questions from the residents of O’Fallon are an important step in the pre-construction process,” Mayor Gary Graham said.
The proposed project will include an extension of the Illini Bike Trail to State Street, shoulder improvements along South Lincoln Avenue and Cross Street from Highway 50 south to Frank Scott Parkway, and a sidewalk extension on the west side of South Lincoln Avenue from Virginia Avenue south to Pierce Boulevard.
The proceedings of the meeting will be informal and individuals will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project. City staff and representatives from Rhutasel and Associates, Inc. will be present to answer questions and record comments offered by those in attendance. Preliminary design drawings and effects on properties will be available for inspection at the meeting.
For more information, or for persons with a disability planning to attend this meeting and needing special accommodations, please contact Tony Schenk, Project Engineer, Rhutasel and Associates, Inc., at tony.schenk@rhutasel.net or 618-539-3178, ext. 18.
Regency Park Drive and Green Mount business complex
In the home stretch of completion, Dave Kunkel, managing broker of O’Fallon’s Kunkel Commercial Group Inc., said the building construction is 75 percent finished with a July 2016 completion date expected.
“They are working on dry walling and painting on the interior right now, and we are on schedule for completion this summer,” Kunkel said. “We even have anchored tenants already.”
Anchored tenants for all but the second floor have been announced:
▪ 1818 Chop House will be a restaurant on the first floor.
▪ Kurowski Schultz LLC, a legal firm, will occupy the entire third and fourth floors.
▪ Visionary Wealth Advisers is planned to be on the fifth floor.
“We have several other tenants we are in negotiations for the second floor,” Kunkel said.
Milburn/Simmons/Fairwood Roundabout
Work began Monday, April 4, but is not anticipated to require any road closures until after May 24, although delays could be encountered.
Funded through an 80 percent federal grant, this project will create a roundabout at the intersection of Milburn School Road and Simmons Road. Construction will be scheduled between the end of the school year in May 2016 and the beginning of school in August 2016.
Taylor said more information will be forthcoming in the next month.
“Now it’s currently a four-way stop, and over the summer a round about will be installed there to help alleviate traffic for the following school year (2016-2017),” Taylor said. “So starting about May 24, the day after school lets out for summer break the construction will begin, and the intersection will be closed until it is complete sometime in August before school reopens.”
Green Mount Road Improvements
St. Clair County recommended approval of the jurisdictional transfer of Green Mount Road, from Highway 50 south to Pierce/Regency Park, to the City of O'Fallon. This transfer will allow the city to widen and improve this section of Green Mount Road, including four lanes with a planted median and intermediate turn lanes.
The project will consist of a new signalized intersection at Cambridge Boulevard, which will serve as the main entrance to the new St. Elizabeth’s Medical Campus. In addition to the street improvements, a 10-foot-wide bicycle and walking path will be installed on the west side of Green Mount Road to provide a continuous pedestrian access route from Regency Park to the Family Sports Park and the Illini Trail Bike Trail.
These improvements should start sometime late 2016, according to city officials.
Highway 50 Intersection Improvements
This project will extend the right turn lane and improve the intersections along Highway 50 in front of Wal-Mart. This project is 80 percent funded through a federal grant.
Construction is slated to begin this spring, and be complete by fall 2016.
For questions about the project, contact O’Fallon Public Works at 624-4500, ext. 3.
This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "O’Fallon construction round up."