Lake County Gazette

The Lake County Board is set to vote this week on the allocation of $265,000 from Sales Tax for Transportation funds towards improvements on 21st Street, stretching from Delany Road to Illinois Route 173. Alongside this, a change order amounting to $262,483 for extra professional engineering services will be considered as part of the joint resolution.

According to the Lake County Board agenda for its January 16 meeting, the section of 21st Street in question is due for upgrades that include pavement resurfacing, culvert replacement, and intersection enhancements at the junction of 21st Street and Kenosha Road.

In March 2020, the county board sanctioned a $1.5 million appropriation of quarter-percent Sales Tax for Transportation funds for this project. The board also approved a $1.2 million consultant engineering agreement with Stanley Consultants of Chicago during that time.

This week's change order comprises additional drainage studies with hydraulic modeling and engineering design aimed at mitigating environmental resource impacts. It also includes provisions for delays caused by the pandemic and further public and stakeholder outreach initiatives.

To date, contract change orders have totaled $347,203, marking a 27.8% increase over the original contract award.