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Street Resurfacing

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1. What work will be done?

First, the contractor will replace any concrete sidewalk or curb and gutter that have already been determined by the Village. Following the concrete work, the contractor will mill/grind the existing asphalt surface in preparation for new asphalt pavement. After the existing asphalt is ground, Village of Romeoville Public Works or contractor cleans and repairs the pavement base as needed before installing the new asphalt pavement on top.

Weather and scheduling are very dynamic during construction, and the Village coordinates with the contractor to ensure completion dates are met.

2. What is a curb? What is it used for?

Concrete curbs or combined curbs and gutters serve several important functions. Curbs collect water from crowned pavements and convey it to points of collection, thus reducing the amount of water that gets under the pavement. Curbs outline the edges of pavements and provide easily definable borders between traveled and untraveled surfaces. Curbs also confine pavement structures, especially if the pavements are composed of layers of materials that must be compacted in-place. In addition, curbs help contain low speed traffic within the edges of pavements.

3. Will I have access to my driveway?

If the curb and/or sidewalk across your driveway requires replacement, access will be blocked until the work is complete. The process typically consists of removing the old concrete, installing new concrete, and completing any patches to the driveway if needed. The process can take up to one week as the new concrete must cure before it is strong enough for vehicle loading. The contractor is responsible for issuing notices to each home in which work will be done in front of a driveway. These notices are required to be delivered a few days in advance of work. The contractor also will knock on the resident’s door the morning the work will begin.

While access is blocked to the driveway, vehicles can park on the street but may be directed to certain locations by the contractor to allow access to work areas. The Police Department will be notified and overnight parking will be allowed for the affected driveways.

4. Why isn't my curb being replaced?

Curbs are designed for drainage. It's unusual for there to be a problem, as most curbs are fine and drain properly. Generally, if a curb needs to be replaced it's because it has shifted, broken or doesn’t drain properly. In order to stay on-budget, the Village must follow its procedure and stay within the guidelines for replacement (and not replace simply for aesthetic reasons). 

The Village places the most importance on curbs that have excessive damage/cracking, as well as locations where water sits in the curbline due to an insufficient slope in the curbline.

Your curb may not meet the criteria for removal and therefore wasn't approved for replacement. Please call the Romeoville Public Works Department at (815) 886-1870 for more information.

5. Why isn't my entire apron being replaced?

A driveway apron is the parkway portion of your driveway, from the curb to the sidewalk. The only time an entire apron is replaced is if the sidewalk and curb are being repaired or elevation changes are needed.Private driveways receive a three foot patch only for sidewalk repair unless damaged area exceeds three feet, to be determined by the Village. Due to the Village's budget, the entire apron cannot be replaced. In order to get the most curb done for the lowest cost, the Village must focus on operation and not aesthetics.

6. Why was the sidewalk on the corner removed?

Public Works changes sidewalks on corners to conform to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. If a corner sidewalk does not cross to another ADA-compliant sidewalk, it will be removed and replaced with dirt and seed.

7. They worked on my curb, and now the curb and driveway aren't the same height. Why is this?

There are several reasons for this, including:

1. The curb may have dropped. Curbs are replaced to the original level in order to convey water away from your yard.
2. Most likely your apron/driveway settled at the same time as the curb.
3. Curbs and aprons are repaired in order to get runoff to flow into the curbline and to a storm drain. This most likely requires your curbline and apron elevations to be modified, resulting in a driveway sloped toward the street.

The Village doesn't depress existing high curbs if:

1. The curb doesn't warrant removal
2. The driveway is constructed of brick-paver
3. Depressing the curb will cause an unsafe grade change between the curb and sidewalk

Otherwise, the Village replaces driveway curbing with depressed curbing wherever it doesn't affect other concrete adjacent to the new concrete.

8. Why didn't they fix a larger section of my curb?

The Village replaces only what needs to be replaced to fix drainage issues.

9. The grass was not restored. Will this ever get done?

The Street Improvement Program contract has deadlines that must be completed on time (lawn restoration usually occurs in October). Contractors are instructed to put dirt and seed. If that doesn’t take, the contractor will replace the dirt and seed.

10. Why was my street selected to be resurfaced?

In addition to performing an annual road assessment, the Village looks at data compiled using a standard industry process to establish roadway conditions. If your street is being worked on it was determined to be a high priority for that year. Roads are selected based on a few determining factors, including pavement cracking, pot holes, slopes and/or grading issues.

11. Will school buses and garbage trucks be able to use the road?

Yes. The roadway will be open to traffic. At times, there may be slight delays caused by the work. The Village also may request that you place your refuse and recycling out earlier than normal in an effort to complete the area pick-ups before construction begins.

12. What happens if the contractor damages my mailbox or sprinkler system?

If you notice damage to your mailbox, please report it to Public Works immediately at (815) 886-1870. If you're aware of the location of your sprinkler heads, please mark them with flags, paint or notify the Village or contractor directly. This will allow the contractor to use greater caution in your area when removing the curb and/or sidewalk. The Village is not responsible for the incidental damage of a sprinkler system that is located on the parkway per Code Ordinance.

13. Will the road be closed?

Roads will remain open at all times. However, there may be traffic delays due to construction activities throughout the project. This may encourage residents that know alternate routes to consider using them.

14. Why does it take so long to complete the project? Why isn't the contractor working today?

The contractor is required to complete the work by a date specified in the contract. They are permitted to schedule the work in any way they choose, as long as the final deadline is met. Factors affecting the contractor’s schedule are workload, subcontractor availability and weather. We are sorry for the inconvenience, however, we are certain the finished product will be well worth the inconvenience.

15. Can I drive on tack oil?

Yes, but please drive slowly to minimize spray. If you have a brick or concrete driveway, avoid driving into your driveway while the tack oil is on the pavement. The Village does not pay to have oil removed from vehicles. Residents who know alternate routes are encouraged to use them to avoid getting tack coat (oil) on their vehicles.

16. What if I have special needs?

Handicap ramps are available for residents with special needs. Please call Public Works to make arrangements at (815) 886-1870.

17. What are some tips to ensure proper grass restoration when construction is completed?

Once construction is completed:

1. Water, water, water! Please keep in mind that no plant will establish or survive without an adequate level of moisture. This is especially true once we move into the warmer months and might require watering more than once a day. Watering everyday in the morning is best, ideally between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. This will allow the most efficient use of water for the new seed. Keeping the seedbed moist is the most critical component for successful establishment. The areas don't have to be saturated with water, just moist at the surface level. Our custom grass seed formulation will germinate in 7-10 days if you water every day. 
2. When any area of bare ground is disturbed, some weed growth will occur. Removing these weed plants by hand is another way to accelerate establishment. These plants steal sunlight and water from the desirable grass plants.