Palatine plans to resurface record number of streets this year

Palatine plans to reach a milestone this year by resurfacing a record 10% of its streets.

The village is investing more than $5 million in its road system, including $1.15 million from a federal grant to resurface Illinois Avenue from Quentin to Plum Grove roads. The work also includes the creation of an off-road bicycle and pedestrian path.

The resurfacing program is expected to begin next week.

Village council members Monday approved a $196,670 contract with Builders Paving, LLC of Hillside to improve an additional five sections of roadway, boosting the total targeted for outsourcing this year to 47 streets.

Public Works Director Matt Barry said additional funds were available because the water fund is $500,000 under budget as a result of a low bid for water main replacement.

In addition to the work being contracted, public works plans to resurface an additional six streets, boosting the total in-house work to 34 streets, Barry said.

The favorable winter meant the village is able to shift about $150,000 earmarked for salt and snow to add the six streets, he added.

“First of all, I hope you didn't jinx us by talking about how great our weather has been,” said District 3 council member Doug Myslinski, District 3, who chairs the panel’s infrastructure and environment committee. “But second, that blows previous years out of the water, does it not?”

“That's definitely our high water mark,” Barry said. “We have not gotten to this point of roadway maintenance in a single year.”