CUTLINE: Elgin Pre Con Walk Photo: Elgin City Superintendent Tom Martin (left) converses with contractors for Elgin’s Center Street Project, which is set to begin on Aug. 5.

Preconstruction meeting held for Center Street project

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer

            A preconstruction meeting for Elgin’s Center Street Project was held on Friday, July 19. Present at the meeting were Mayor Bill Pfister, City Clerk Rhonda Dales, City Superintendent Tom Martin, and City Councilmember Sara Strong, along with various contractors and subcontractors for the project.

            Construction is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 5, at the east end of Center Street. Jake Huck, a project engineer from MSA Professional Services, was also in attendance at the meeting and introduced Joe Elsinger, who will be the on-site coordinator for the project once it begins.

            Two-way traffic and parking will still be available on Center Street during the project, but this will vary as crews progress with construction from east to west. Truck traffic will be diverted around the Center Street construction to Mill Street. Through traffic will be able to use the intersections at either end of the project to go around construction on Center Street.

            It was also noted at the meeting that property owners along Center Street would be receiving notices of the start date, as well as other pertinent information regarding the construction.

One item of concern was notifying property owners of the options that exist regarding water connections and the possible need for replacement of pipes while the pipes are exposed.

Tschiggfrie Excavating, the main contractor for the project, will be working closely with Elsinger and Martin to keep the council and property owners aware of how the project is progressing. Final completion of the project is currently scheduled for Nov. 15.