An Aurora City Council committee this week recommended an engineering contract and a $19.5 million bid for roadwork along Farnsworth Avenue, Bilter Road and Church Road.
Much of the work is tied to the Hollywood Casino-Aurora project underway, although the city has been planning for all the roadwork needed in that area through 2050, not just the casino.
In addition to the casino resort project, the city owns land further east on Bilter Road that will be developed, some into mixed uses, some into housing.
Aldermen on the Infrastructure and Technology Committee on Monday recommended a $19.5 million bid with Addison-based R.W. Dunteman Co. for the roadwork.
The committee also recommended about a $1.9 million construction engineering contract with HR Green, Inc., of Aurora, to oversee the work. The city has already worked with HR Green overseeing traffic studies done for the area.
Brian Witkowski, of the city’s Engineering Division, said Dunteman was the lowest responsible bidder for the construction contract. The $19.5 million was higher than the estimated $16 million the city had projected for the work, but Witkowski said officials “think we got a relatively good price” despite that.
He said officials are looking at “truncating” some of the project – changing some things and delaying others – to afford the work.
He said the city already has $2.5 million in federal funds committed and will be seeking more. As part of the redevelopment agreement the city has with the casino, the company will give the city another $2 million toward the roadwork.
The tax increment financing district for the casino site could pay for some of it, too.
Also, the city will get an estimated $2 million to $2.5 million in interest off the proceeds from the $58 million bond issue the city passed as part of the casino redevelopment agreement.
The proceeds come from the fact the city has passed the bond issue already, but has not yet paid the casino the $50 million toward the overall $360 million project.
Payment will be done based on a series of benchmarks the casino must meet first. In the meantime, the city is earning interest off the proceeds.
Witkowski said the city is hoping to have much of the roadwork done by Thanksgiving 2025. The timing is to have the work done by Black Friday, because it is a big weekend for Chicago Premium Outlets mall.
Ald. John Laesch, at large, a committee member, asked about what kind of public awareness there will be as the road projects proceed. The city has already held one public meeting for area residents regarding the work.
Alex Alexandrou, the city’s chief management officer, said while there will likely be no more public meetings, city officials will attend ward meetings and neighborhood organization gatherings to talk about the work.
Also, the city’s website will have regular construction updates, and HR Green will put up its own website “specifically for this project,” Alexandrou said.
“We are going to have regular traffic updates … we will be putting it out on social media,” he said.
slord@tribpub.com
