Two major road improvement projects in Orland Park have hit delays.
Projects on Southwest Highway plus the 143rd Street and John Humphrey Drive intersection are in a holding pattern.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is overseeing the $20.6 million Southwest Highway project, which is closed between 131st to 135th streets.
This has been a problem area with flooding for years and the wheels were set in motion in September 2023, with an estimated closing date of November 2024.
“There is a delay with the contractor (Judlau Construction),” Village Manager George Koczwara said at the July 20 village board meeting. “IDOT and the state is doing everything they can to get that contractor back on task.”
Public Works Director Joel VanEssen said there is no work currently being done between 131st and 135th streets, but some related work is being done south of 135th. He estimates work may finally get done in 2027.
VanEssen said the redesign of the 131st bridge over the Mill Creek ditch pushed the project into 2025. Storm work and utility installations were stalled due to poor soil conditions to extend the work into 2026.
In May, there were a few new wrinkles to the project.
“They redesigned it and the plan was for them to start in May,” VanEssen said. “But Judlau did not remobilize at that time and some liquidated damages are occurring.”
He said the road would not be open during this delay because it would have to be reconfigured again to maintain safety.
Trustee Dina Lawrence wondered if a new contractor could take over, but VanEssen said that would take a lot more time and cost.
“It would be a very time-consuming transfer to a new contractor,” he said.
The $9.2 million143rd/Humphrey project calls for bridge demolition and replacement, complete reconstruction and widening of the intersection, additional lanes and lane widening on all approaches, new roadway lighting and watermain replacement.
But this project is on hold, according to Director of Engineering Khurshid Hoda because of “unexpected utility conflicts.”
That’s causing handhole relocations for AT&T, Comcast, Commonwealth Edison and Nicor.
Other factors included Commonwealth Edison being “burdened by unexpected storms and power outages” and Comcast coordinating with out of state offices for fiber splices, according to Hoda.
“All utility conflicts must be cleared from the construction area before work can start again,” he said but didn’t have a finish date to announce.