The village of Justice is getting help from the state of Illinois to deal with flooding problems to the tune of $2.2 million.
The Justice Stormwater Improvement Project will involve replacing multiple stormwater lines “because of age,” said Matthew Zarebczan, the village’s Director of Economic Development
He handles grants for the village. The money is provided via the Rebuild Illinois Program, he said.
“They have released the funds to us. (We are) very happy,” he said after the board met on Dec. 23.
The locations being improved with new lines are:
- 84th place and 85th Street between 81st Avenue and 294.
- 88th Avenue to 90th Avenue between 84th Place and 85th Place.
- 86th Avenue from 81st Street to 79th Street.
- 81st Street from 86th Court to 86th Avenue.
“We anticipate once we get all the applications through and everything sometime this year. And then our plan is to bid-out the project mid to late 2025,” Zarebczan said.
Flooding issues in the area are in part due to the Tri-State Tollway also known as Interstate 294.
“We get a lot of water along the tollway, so this should alleviate a lot of the issues over there. (Water) from the tollway has to come out somewhere.
“Also, in the 88th and 90th Avenue area, that water comes from Hickory Hills to our 90th Avenue ditch, so this is going to help quite a bit,” he said.
The flooding problems are usually contained to streets and yards, Zarebczan said. He hasn’t heard from many with wet basements.
“Being able to leverage funding like this and get the assistance, some of these projects were on hold until we could find ways to get them done. … You really need to get it done. This gets it done,” he added.
Mayor Kris Wasowicz was pleased to learn the state funding was being provided.
“Our engineer is making plans. Some of the storm lines are 70, 80 years old,” he said.