Construction season in Riverside will get off to an earlier start in 2010 courtesy of millions in federal and state loans the village will use for water main replacement projects.
In late December village officials received word that Riverside would indeed be receiving low-interest loans from both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to complete eight water main projects throughout the village.
All of the work is expected to begin in January or February and be completed by early summer, according to Public Works Director Greg Koch. The work, including all design and oversight costs, amounts to $2.8 million.
Roselle-based Neri Brothers Construction will be the general contractor for all of the projects, having been accepted by village trustees as the low bidder for the Northgate water main replacement project in December and for seven other water main projects at the board’s Jan. 4 meeting.
Of that $2.8 million loan amount, 25 percent (or $700,000) will be forgiven by ARRA. Another 25 percent of the ARRA loan can be paid back over 20 years at zero-percent interest. The remaining 50 percent of the loan looks like it can be paid back to the IEPA over 20 years at zero-percent interest.
Riverside Finance Director Kevin Wachtel said last week that the IEPA has already confirmed that its portion of the Northgate water main project can be paid back at zero percent. He expects the agency to offer Riverside the same deal for the remaining seven projects.
Riverside will increase water rates to repay the loans over time. Wachtel said he has not yet confirmed how much the increase will be for water customers. Riverside raised water charges 24 percent in December in order maintain enough cash on hand to repay previous bond issues.
The new low-cost loans from the federal government will trigger another water rate increase to pay for that debt. Water rates in Riverside have climbed 43 percent since 2008, from $5.11 per 100 cubic feet to $7.30.
No kickoff date has been set for the projects, but Koch said he expects to nail one down soon after meeting with the contractors for a preconstruction meeting. While work on Northgate Road will likely start sooner than the other projects, he expects much of the work to be done concurrently throughout the winter months.
On Northgate, workers will replace 2,600 feet of existing 4-inch water main, which is approximately 80 years old, with a new 10-inch water main.
Other projects to be completed this winter include:
Retiring the Selborne Road water main between Delaplaine and Northgate and transferring 72 services to the Gatesby main. The work will include the removal of four trees.
Retiring the Forest Avenue alley water main, transfer 40 services and add two fire hydrants to the 4-inch water main south of Pine Avenue on West Avenue.
Replacing the Forbes Road water main between Waubansee Road and Parkview Road. Approximately 1,100 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe will connect areas north and south of the railroad tracks.
Replacing the East Burlington Street water main between Longcommon Road and Cowley Road, with a new 12-inch pipe approximately 1,600 feet long.
Retiring the Longcommon Road water main between East Burlington Street and Herrick Road. The work will require three trees to be removed and 10 services transferred.
Replacing the Cowley Road water main, roughly 1,800 lineal feet of 10-inch pipe on both sides of the railroad tracks. Three fire hydrants will be added to the line.
Retiring the Southcote Road water main. The work will include transferring water service for 80 buildings, including Ames School. Three fire hydrants will be added to the line.
The water main replacement projects had previously been programmed by the village for completion over a period of several years. However, the schedule was accelerated last spring, when the village learned it might qualify for federal stimulus dollars, most of it in the form of low-interest loans, being set aside for “shovel-ready” projects.
The Northgate water main project was already planned for 2009, and the village board in March 2009 approved spending $12,500 to apply for the federal funds. In May, the board completed the application project by passing an ordinance authorizing acceptance of up to $3.5 million in federal stimulus funds, should that money be offered to the village.