Highland City Council approves needed roadwork construction projects
Matter Drive will be reconstructed thanks to a state grant, after votes from the Highland City Council on Monday, Dec. 5.
The city received an economic development program grant from the state of Illinois in conjunction with the Trouw plant expansion. The grant pays up to $510,000, with remaining funds supplemented from motor fuel taxes, according to the memo provided by Joe Gillespie, director of public works.
Rebuild Illinois funds should cover $635,000 of the city’s cost for the project, according to the memo.
The council also voted to hire Oates Associates Inc. to perform engineering services for the improvement and reconstruction of both Matter Drive and Executive Drive. Oates will be paid up to $58,806 for its services, which include right-of-way documents and plan revisions.
The project will encompass the two roads from U.S. Route 40 south to the cul-de-sac. Construction is estimated to finish in June.
Meanwhile, Oates also will perform planning services for restoring and resurfacing Veterans Honor Parkway from Broadway to Michael Road. Those services were approved at $34,180. This project replaces the Broadway and Center street reconstruction projects in the city’s priorities.
“Several factors prompted my decision to change project priorities,” wrote Gillespie in his men to the council. “Significant construction cost increases raised the engineer’s estimate beyond budged amounts. We should request that the state participate or fully fund the Broadway project.”
In the meantime, Gillespie wrote, Veterans Honor Parkway is “deteriorating rapidly.” The concrete pavement was constructed in 2000 with the adjacent subdivision, and consists of 8 inches of non-reinforced concrete, which he wrote was standard at the time.
“The panels are moving similarly to what the Troxler Avenue pavement was doing 10 years ago,” he wrote. “The movement creates a thumping sound as vehicles drive along this section.”
The project will include retrofitting and diamond grinding the surface, similar to the resurfacing conducted on Troxler Avenue.
“I’m glad we’ll be getting this done,” said Councilwoman Peggy Bellm. “No more thumping.”