Waukegan council approves multiple water, sewer and roadway repairs, emergency fixes

Waukegan officials on March 17 approved several resolutions and emergency procurements to address aging sewer and water infrastructure and recurring stormwater problems.

The actions authorized replacement and repairs to a failing sanitary force main on River Road, a meter-vault interconnect on Fourteenth Street (Audrey Nixon Boulevard), drainage and roadway repairs on Seahorse Drive, an additional materials change order for Kershawffer Trucking, and a retroactive payment for an emergency transmission-line repair performed by Joel Kennedy Construction Corporation. Public Works said the projects respond to repeated repairs and chronic flooding in specific locations and to a large, urgent break on a 30-inch transmission line.

Why it matters: The council and Public Works leaders said the measures are needed to prevent recurring service interruptions and public-health hazards from standing water and sanitary leaks; several items were designated as time-sensitive or emergency work. The spend authorizations range from roughly $30,000 for a materials change order up to roughly $401,660 for a meter-vault award.

Most significant items - River Road sanitary force main: The council authorized a contract with Campanella & Sons to replace a deteriorated force main; the authorization was for a not-to-exceed amount shown in committee as $337,730.07. City staff said easement issues delayed the work and that the line carries pressurized sanitary flow that presents particular risk if it fails. - Fourteenth Street interconnect meter vault: Campanella & Sons was awarded the meter vault contract as the lowest qualified bidder for a not-to-exceed $401,659.94. - Seahorse Drive drainage and roadway repairs: The council approved Rabin Paving to repair drainage, address frequent flooding and restore the roadway for a not-to-exceed $225,170.15. Staff said the work includes catch basins and reconfiguration to reduce ponding at the beach entrance. - Kershawffer Trucking materials change order: A change order of $30,000 was approved to replenish materials that were consumed responding to an unusually high number of water-main breaks over the winter; staff said the earlier authorization (May 20, 2024) was $60,000 and the new total would reach $90,000. - Emergency water-main repairs (Joel Kennedy Construction Corp.): The council approved a retroactive payment not to exceed $112,021.41 for emergency repair to a 30-inch transmission main on Pershing Road; staff described the incident as a bona fide emergency that required contractor assistance because city crews could not complete the repair in time.

What officials said: Public Works staff described the River Road pipe as galvanized and in poor condition with repeated repairs over the years and explained that the Seahorse Drive work aims to reduce a recurring health and access hazard created by standing water at the roadway. City engineers said Seahorse work is an interim measure (paving with drainage and inlet improvements) while a later full realignment and reconstruction is planned.

Funding and process notes: Staff said some items were bid (Fourteenth Street interconnect) and that Campanella was the lowest qualified bidder; others were handled as good-faith waivers or emergency procurements because of timing, site-specific easement constraints, or immediate public-health risk. Several motions were introduced in Public Works committee and forwarded to the full council under standard ordinance and waiver provisions in the municipal procurement code.

Next steps: Contractors may begin work once contracts are finalized and permits are secured; staff said Seahorse Drive is an interim repair pending a future reconstruction project that will require a separate engineering phase and funding.

Provenance: This article summarizes agenda items discussed and voted on during the March 17, 2025 Public Works committee and full council meeting (transcript excerpts from the River Road and Seahorse Drive items).