While the bulk of Brookfield street resurfacing work won’t start until later this year on the village’s south end, one road project unrelated to the recently approved referendum will kick off next week.
Beginning April 4, a major project to improve Shields Avenue between Maple and Eberly avenues will commence, with construction expected to last through mid-August.
That particular stretch of Shields Avenue is the original concrete street, which is at least 60 years old. Intersections have suffered the worst, but there are also significant sections of concrete that have failed elsewhere along the street.
Total cost for the work, including construction and design engineering, is a little less than $1.6 million. However, the village of Brookfield’s share of the cost is roughly $400,000, because Shields Avenue qualifies as a “collector route” and was eligible for a federal Surface Transportation program grant, which will cover the remainder of the cost.
Brookfield will use motor fuel tax revenues to fund its share of the project.
According to Derek Treichel, Brookfield’s village engineer, the six intersections between Maple and Eberly along Shields will be reconstructed by removing the existing concrete and replacing them with a new concrete base that will be surfaced with asphalt. New drainage structures and pipe from those structures to manholes will also be installed at the intersections.
In addition, crews will remove and patch failed areas of the concrete streets, which will be milled and kept as the base for a new asphalt surface. All of the curbs, gutters and driveway aprons will be replaced, said Treichel, and handicapped-accessible ramps will be installed at corners.
Sewers under the street have been televised, said Treichel, and any sections of failed sewer will be replaced as part of the project.
Construction will have an impact on traffic and parking, but Treichel said the goal is to maintain local traffic during the majority of the project. The village sent letters to residents of the area, warning them that sections of the street may need to be closed during the day, but that streets would be reopened at night.
In areas where access to driveway aprons will be interrupted, the contractor has been instructed to give those residents 24 hours’ notice.
