Locust Road
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Village of Wilmette
​

Locust Road Construction
Wilmette Avenue to Lake Avenue

Older Information


October 11:  Asphalt binder is complete and west side residential driveways will be opened October 11.
The upcoming schedule includes raising manhole frames, completing street lighting, installing west side sod, and milling and patching the Locust/Lake and Locust/Wilmette intersections.
The final layer of surface is scheduled to be placed the week of October 28, immediately followed by pavement markings and signage.
After that, the one-way detour will be removed and Locust Road will be back to two-way traffic!
If you have a sprinkler system, please make sure all the heads are working correctly.  If not, please contact us so your address can be added to the repair list.

​September 30:  Work on the west side of Locust Road is underway!  Once curbs and sidewalks are poured, you will see fine grading of the roadway and installation of street lighting conduits.  Crews hope to place the asphalt binder on Wednesday, October 9, weather permitting. 
West side residents, we thank you for your patience during your driveway closures.  All Locust residents, the crews are working hard to make sure this project stays on schedule; do know the end is near and your patience is and continues to be appreciated.
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September 10:  ​West sidewalk removal begins Wednesday, September 11. 
Please use the east sidewalk and avoid the work zone. 
Stone will be placed at intersections to provide crossing access and mid-block crossings will be maintained. 
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​Click here to see the map exhibit.

​August 22:  Work on the west side of Locust Road is scheduled to begin the week of August 26.  At that time, traffic will be moved to the east side of the roadway; traffic will remain one-way northbound.  South of Wilmette Junior High School, there will be a car pool lane and a thru lane; north of Wilmette Junior High School, there will be one thru lane. 
The scope of work for the west side includes pavement removal, curb removal, driveway removal, earth excavation, stone base, curbs, driveways, street lighting, and asphalt paving.  The project is on schedule for November 15th substantial completion.
Because the Village places tremendous value on its trees, for all capital projects (including Locust Road), the Village supports significant investment in precautions to minimalize impacts to critical tree root zones. 
Originally, none of the nearly 80 trees within the project limits were scheduled for removal as part of the Locust Road project.  Despite many precautions, a recent evaluation of the trees determined there were root system impacts that compromised the structural integrity of eight trees.
Many factors (species, health, maturity, amount of root damage, proximity to pedestrian walkways and roadways, susceptibility to fungal root decay, overhead powerlines, past canopy pruning, potential for catastrophic failure, wind throw, etc.) were considered prior to making the unwanted decision on tree removal.  Eight trees have been removed in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare.
August 2:  Concrete and asphalt work begins Saturday, August 3 and is planned to continue through Saturday, August 17, weather depending.  This work will prevent the use of driveways on the east side of the street.  Please use the nearest cross street for your parking needs.  All driveway aprons will be replaced after the new street lighting conduits have been installed.
Please click here to see the notice describing the work and schedule in greater detail.
Do know we apologize for this inconvenience and greatly appreciate your patience during this work.
If there is any problem, question or concern, do not hesitate to contact us.

​July 11:  The watermain and storm sewer improvements are substantially complete!  Roadway excavation is scheduled to begin Monday, July 15.  Traffic will be reduced to one northbound lane for the remainder of the summer. 
The east side of the roadway will be reconstructed first.  This involves removing the remaining pavement, curb and driveway aprons on the east side.  The roadway will be excavated to its subgrade and the stone base will be placed in preparation for asphalt paving. 
Temporary access will be provided to all driveways and side streets; however, with all this activity, delays are expected – please plan accordingly and allow more time to get to your destination. 
Residents will be notified the day before their driveway apron is removed and asked to park on adjacent side streets.  The Wilmette Junior High School entrances will be removed one at a time leaving two open so bus traffic can be maintained.

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June 21:  As a safety precaution, a daytime closure of the first block of Locust Road between Wilmette Avenue and Greenleaf Avenue is needed in order to install the large diameter storm sewer down the center of the road.
Traffic will be detoured to Karey Court and Greenleaf Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Monday, June 24 till no later than Friday, June 28, weather permitting.
No street parking will be allowed on the detour route between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to accommodate larger vehicles.
The detour will be posted with construction signs and message boards.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be maintained on both the east and west sidewalks of Locust Road.
​Thank you for your patience. 
Click the map to view larger.

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June 17:  As a safety precaution, a daytime closure of the first block of Locust Road between Wilmette Avenue and Greenleaf Avenue is needed in order to install the large diameter storm sewer down the center of the road.  Traffic will be detoured to Karey Court and Greenleaf Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Tuesday, June 18 till no later than Friday, June 21, weather permitting.
No street parking will be allowed on the detour route between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to accommodate larger vehicles.  The detour will be posted with construction signs and message boards.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be maintained on both the east and west sidewalks of Locust Road.
​Thank you for your patience.
​Click the map to view larger.

June 6:  On Friday, June 7 from approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Orchard Lane will be closed at Locust Road for storm sewer construction.  Northbound traffic will be maintained on Locust Road.
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Thank you for your patience and please remember to drive safely through the work zone.
June 5:  Locust Road will be temporarily closed from Orchard Lane to Lake Avenue on Thursday, June 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for storm sewer construction.  Northbound traffic on Locust Road will be routed westbound on Orchard Lane to Romona Road.  This temporary closure is necessary for the safety of the motorists.  Local traffic will be allowed access to their homes.

May 20:  Traffic Alert - Watermain work in the intersection of Lake Avenue and Locust Road is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 through Friday, May 24.  To accommodate construction activates in this intersection and provide a safe work zone, the following traffic impacts will be required during daytime working hours, 7 to 5 p.m.
  • Lake Avenue will be reduced from four lanes of traffic to two lanes of traffic.  One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Lake Avenue.
  • Northbound traffic on Locust Road will only be able to make right turns.  Left turns and northbound thru traffic movements will not be permitted.
  • Locust Road north of Lake Avenue will be completely closed to thru traffic in both directions.  Local traffic will be permitted from the north at Blackhawk Road.     
Please plan for delays; your patience is much appreciated!​
May 17:  The Birchwood Avenue/Locust Road intersection will be closed Monday morning, May 20, from 7 to 10:00 a.m. for utility work.  Residents on Birchwood Avenue can access their homes from Romona Road and head east on Birchwood Avenue.  Sorry for the inconvenience!​
May 3:  Watermain work in the intersection of Wilmette Avenue and Locust Road will begin Monday morning, May 6 and continue through Wednesday afternoon, May 8.  Northbound traffic on Locust Road will be maintained as will east/west traffic on Wilmette Avenue.  The car pool lane will be closed after AM arrival and reopened at 2:45 for PM dismissal.  A flagger will be onsite to facilitate traffic at the intersection.  Please plan for delays; your patience is much appreciated!

​April 18:  Starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20, the contractor will be installing watermain in front of Wilmette Junior High School; one lane of northbound traffic will be maintained.
​Access to Wilmette Junior High School will be staged - this means only one entrance will be closed at a time.
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No work is scheduled for Easter Sunday and no water service interruptions are planned.  Thank you for your patience!​
April 10:  The contractor hit a ComEd line.  You may be experiencing a temporary power outage.
ComEd has been notified of the situation.
Please remain patient as repair crews are being dispatched.
April 9:  Watermain lateral road crossings from Wilmette Avenue to WJHS are complete.  The main in this section is filled with water and pending leakage and chlorination testing results.
Water service line installation is scheduled to begin the week of April 22 in the 500 and 600 blocks; more detailed information regarding water service installation impacts was delivered to each affected residence yesterday afternoon.
Watermain installation has shifted north between Lake Avenue and Marian Lane.  The focus of work on April 8 was along the west side of Locust heading south to Orchard.  Construction activities in the Lake Avenue intersection are on hold until asphalt plants open in mid-April. 
Thank you for being patient during construction!  Check out the latest project photos!

​March 29:  Spring break has been a busy week for the Locust Road project.  While schools were closed, good weather helped the contractor complete the first third of the watermain from Wilmette Avenue to the south WJHS entrance.  Installation of the lateral road crossings from the newly installed watermain to connect the side streets within this section began today.  Northbound traffic on Locust remains open as trenches are dug across the road, however, minor delays are anticipated.
By the middle of the following week, side street laterals will be complete and construction will shift to the center of the Locust/Lake intersection to begin watermain installation heading south toward WJHS.  Daily lane shifts will be utilized for Lake Avenue to accommodate the intersection watermain work.  Minor daytime delays are expected, but traffic from Locust to Lake will remain open.
Continue to use caution in the work zone and watch for trucks entering/exiting the site.  Pending completion of the laterals, information on the Lake Avenue intersection lane shifts will be posted.  And don't forget to check out the project photos!​
March 19:  Watermain work in the intersection of Wilmette Avenue and Locust Road will begin tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
Northbound traffic on Locust Road will be maintained as will east/west traffic on Wilmette Avenue.  The car pool lane will be open at 2:45 p.m.
A flagger will be onsite to facilitate traffic at the intersection.  Please plan for delays; your patience is much appreciated!​​
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March 8:  Beginning Monday, March 11, Locust Road will be closed in the southbound direction.  Two lanes will be open in the northbound traffic, one for thru traffic and the other to accommodate a school car pool lane.
Parents dropping off students in the morning will need to use the east car pool lane.
School access will be maintained at all times, however, the car pool lane will be closed 8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
In the afternoon, parents arriving prior to 2:45 p.m. can use legal on-street parking on Wilmette Avenue or Locust Road south of Wilmette Avenue.  At 2:45 p.m., the car pool lane will open and parents can access Locust Road to pick up students.
Construction flaggers and the police department will be present to help direct traffic.
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Click here to view a pdf of the map​

March 4:  We would like to invite you to our Public Open House for the Locust Road Construction.
The Open House will be held tomorrow, March 5, in the lobby of Wilmette Junior High School (620 Locust Road).
​This is an informal open house; anyone interested can arrive anytime between 4 and 6 p.m.; there will be no formal presentation.  Exhibits will be on display and representatives from the project team will be present to receive input, provide information, and answer questions.​

February 15:  Locust Road construction is set to begin March 11.  This project involves storm sewer and watermain replacement, roadway reconstruction, sidewalk improvements, and intersection and crosswalk safety enhancements on Locust Road between Wilmette and Lake Avenues.  Work will be accomplished in phases and staged in a manner to limit impacts to area schools and residents while providing a safe work zone.  Those traveling southbound will be detoured throughout construction; click here to view the detour map.  This project is scheduled to be completed in November.
A Public Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wilmette Junior High School, 620 Locust Road.  The Open House will take place in the lobby of the school and anyone can stop by anytime to learn more about the project, ask questions and meet the project team.  Community members are encouraged to attend; no formal presentation will be given.
​If you have any questions related to the project, do not hesitate to contact us.  Thank you in advance for your patience during this work.
  • Click here to view the project brochure
  • ​Click here to view the 2018 Design Public Open House materials

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Locust Road Construction
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