Palatine Road Construction Resumes, But Costs to Village Decline

The Palatine Road construction project has resumed with no eastbound traffic east of the railroad tracks, however the cost of the project to the village has declined by about $1.3 million.

Eastbound traffic is being detoured along Plum Grove Road and Colfax Street. Two-way traffic resumes west of the railroad tracks. Palatine Public Works Director Matt Barry said Palatine Road east of the tracks would remain down to one lane,  and westbound only for about two months.

The $9.4 million road project was supposed to be finished last year, but it fell behind schedule because of the Laborers and Operating Engineers strike in July. There also were issues with the location of utility lines.

Although the project has taken longer than expected, the cost to the village has dropped from $2.152 million to about $804,905, said Village Manager Reid Ottesen at Monday's council meeting.

Ottesen said Palatine is receiving more federal stimulus funds for the project from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Ottesen said several area projects receiving stimulus funds had come in under budget, freeing up money. Some of that money that was reallocated to Palatine.

"This is a huge positive step forward, saving the village's share on this," Ottesen said. "This is a direct reduction in what our expenses will be."

The project also is receiving funding–about $4.2 million–from other federal programs.

When construction is finished, Palatine Road will be widened from Smith Street to Kerwood Street, which is just west of Route 14. Plum Grove Road also will be widened from Slade Street to Washington Street, which should ease congestion at the Palatine Road intersection.

The project also has involved the reconstruction and reconfiguration of railroad crossings at Palatine Road and Plum Grove Road and the addition of turn lanes at various intersections along Palatine Road.