Two Months Of Old Elm Road Closure Planned For Water Main Repair

LAKE FOREST, IL — Construction is scheduled to begin next week along the border between Lake Forest and Highland Park, officials in both towns announced. A project to repair water mains at Old Elm Road and Timber Lane west of Fort Sheridan is expected to last for about two months.

The Lake Forest City Council last month approved a nearly $1.55 million contract with Bolder Contractors to carry out the work, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of August. Due to construction, Old Elm Road will be closed from Green Bay Road to Sheridan Road starting on June 1, city officials announced. Traffic will be detoured at Green Bay Road to Westleigh and Sheridan roads.

The water main repair was identified as the second-highest priority stormwater drainage project among 13 identified in a November 2014 study, according to a staff memo. The study found the existing storm sewer only had a capacity for a 5-year storm event, but a county ordinance requires the sewer to handle 10-year storm events.

City staff said expanding the storm sewer along Old Elm Road would reduce flood levels on Forest Hill Road west of Timber Lane. Replacement of the Forest Hill Road water main was already listed in the city's annual capital improvement plan, and city staff decided to combine the storm sewer expansion with the water main's replacement to maximize efficiencies and minimize the inconvenience to residents.