Oswego is looking at hiring Chicago-based engineering firm Benesch to help secure competitive federal funds that could potentially accelerate the construction timeline of the ongoing Wolf’s Crossing Road widening project.
The roadway project had been on the village’s radar for years and was subsequently divided into 10 segments to “maximize readily available” funding through various sources, officials said.
Community members after the completion last year of the Harvey Road roundabout that is part of the project expressed interest in speeding up the construction timetable along the entire project route, according to Oswego Public Works Director Jennifer Hughes.
Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman had requested staff analyze the potential for completing the project in 10 years, Hughes said.
“The original plan would take us approximately three years per segment. With 10 segments, the total development time would take 30 years. So, anything that we can do to speed up the project is appreciated,” Hughes said in a response to questions from The Beacon-News.
Funding is the primary issue, she said.
“The primary limiting factor in completing the project is money. The estimated cost to complete the nine remaining segments after the Harvey Road intersection is $82 million. This amount is well beyond our ability to fund the project. Therefore, we are seeking federal and state funding to help accelerate the project,” she said.
Village staff has identified federal funds through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, a nationally competitive federal funding source, that could help the village. RAISE grants could provide up to $25 million per project, Hughes said.
“Two RAISE grants would go a long way to funding the project and help us complete more than one segment at a time,” Hughes said.
Village trustees as a committee of the whole directed staff to obtain a contract with Benesch engineering firm to gather the documentation for the village’s eligibility for the grant money.
“The RAISE grant applications are detailed and require more information than we currently have. Therefore, the Village Board directed staff to obtain a contract with Benesch to gather the documentation for the grant,” Hughes said.
Village trustees and Kauffman were supportive of hiring Benesch to investigate the process for applying for RAISE funds.
The consultant has an office in Naperville.
“We would need to generate an economic analysis, environmental risk assessment and financial completeness assessment among other tasks,” Hughes said. “This work will take several months.”
The estimated cost for the engineering firm to develop the missing elements and prepare the application is approximately $60,400, the public works director said.
The village has been successful in securing funding from other federal programs, namely the Surface Transportation Program.
“We’ve received funding from this program for both the Harvey Road and Douglas Road intersections,” Hughes said.
The village further secured one-time federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act to reduce Oswego’s share of the Harvey Road project, she said.
New development in the Wolf’s Crossing corridor has contributed right-of-way dedications and impact fees to help offset costs as well for the project, Hughes said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.