Cicero Construction, Traffic Headaches Resume Amid Cable Dispute

OAK FOREST, IL — A road improvement project at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue that stalled after the discovery of underground cables at the site will continue through the winter, officials said. The work that has snarled traffic at the busy intersection for nine months was to have been completed in November.

However, workers discovered underground cables that led to a dispute with Oak Forest officials and cable-provider Comcast, The Daily Southtown reported. Comcast provides signal service to Oak Forest and four communities nearby.

The project was halted as the two sides disputed ownership of the cables, and Comcast conceded earlier this month that it owned them, the Southtown reported. Traffic has been snarled for months at the intersection, which is near the Metra commuter rail station.

The cables are scheduled to be removed this week, and construction is scheduled to continue after that.

The road-construction project is designed to replace the culvert that carries 159th Street, as well as Cicero Avenue, over Midlothian Creek, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The project also will make intersection improvements, such as updating traffic signals.

Photos via Google Earth.