Lockport Approves $1.7 Million Streetscape Project

LOCKPORT, IL — The Lockport City council approved its 2021 streetscape project for $1,793,189.38 at its May 5 council meeting. The city awarded the contract for the project to the lowest bidder, R.W. Dunteman Company.

Public Works Director Brent Cann said this is a continuation of the streetscape project which started in 2018. This year's project will include improvements on IL 171 from 11th Street to 10th Street, and on IL 7 from IL 171 to Hamilton Street, according to council documents.

Improvements include new roadway, new curb and gutter, sidewalk replacement, ornamental lighting, brick paver sidewalk, pavement markings, planters and landscaping, according to council documents.

Cann said the underground work is already completed for the two blocks impacted by this project.

Two months of work is expected for each block, Cann said. Work will start in July, and finish in November.

"We did receive favorable bids," Cann said. The city received four bids for the project, and the bid came in under budget.

The project is an IDOT project, so IDOT awards the bid for the project, and the city concurs with the bid, Cann said. The city still oversees and administers the project.

"This is a lot of public investment in the downtown," City Administrator Ben Benson said. "But I think you're starting to see the fruits of our past labor and expenses, where now private dollars are investing in our downtown over the last several years because of what we're doing."

The city council unanimously approved the project.