Motorists driving along 16th Street in North Chicago, between Sheridan Road and Lewis Avenue, are now enjoying the benefits of a newly paved road.
Pedestrians at any of the 16 intersections along the more-than-two-mile route on 16th Street can see they are all new, with ramps complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Not visible are the improvements beneath the surface which will improve water pressure into the 39 new fire hydrants and the homes that no longer have lead pipes connecting them to the city’s water supply. They have copper instead.
These improvements and more are part of an $8.9 million federally funded 16th Street water infrastructure project finished in September in North Chicago, which included the installation of 2.25 miles of new water mains and related infrastructure.
By replacing aging infrastructure, and installing new water mains primarily along 16th Street, Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said conditions for residents and businesses will improve.
“This added water pressure all along the route,” he said. “There is more water pressure in all the fire hydrants there. People will be able to get better insurance benefits. It will enable us to look toward the future and help future residents.
Rockingham said U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, was instrumental in assuring the funding was available for the project as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts signed into law three years ago.
Schneider said in an email the project not only replaced aging water pipes, but has a positive impact on public safety and health in North Chicago. Should there be a fire, the increased water pressure helps, as do the copper pipes for drinking water
“The fire department will have better access to fire hydrants as they protect our homes and businesses,” Schneider said. “The many households will have improved access to safe drinking water — a right, not a privilege — but something that far too many families still have to worry about.”
Though the bulk of the project was underground, Greg Jackson, the mayor’s chief of staff, said 16th Street between Sheridan and Lewis was repaved, curbs replaced, 4,600 feet of new sidewalk laid and new gutters put in place.
“It gave a facelift to the whole area,” Jackson said. “The school district (North Chicago School District 187) demoed the old Lindberg Elementary School. Everything looks better.”
With a mandate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to replace all lead pipes connecting the city’s water system to homes, businesses and other buildings in the community, Jackson said the project helped make a big dent in the pipes needing replacement.
Of the 180 new service lines installed from the water main to the individual buildings, Jackson said 90 replaced older lead ones with copper. The change complies with the EPA nationwide mandate to replace all lead pipes in the next 10 years. Around 900 remain to be switched.
“We’re continuing to chip away at it every chance we get,” Jackson said.
Of the water mains installed, 8,300 feet had a 12-inch diameter and 3,700 feet were 8-inches wide, with 70 new water valves used to help regulate the flow, according to a press release from the city.
Started in September of last year, the project was completed this September with a four-month winter break.
