Council approves Highland Woods 2025 resurfacing using Motor Fuel Tax and Rebuild Illinois funds

The City Council on Wednesday approved resolutions under the Illinois Highway Code to fund the 2025 Highland Woods resurfacing project, using a combination of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) funds.

Public Services Director Mike Pubins explained the city used a Federal Highway Administration‑derived pavement evaluation (Micropaver) and a pavement condition index to rank streets and group adjacent blocks into cost‑efficient resurfacing contracts. He said Highland Woods Boulevard and Peregrine Way were prioritized because parts of the corridor and nearby streets were in deteriorated condition and could be grouped into a single contract to reduce mobilization costs.

Pubins described a practical rule the department follows: if underground water, sewer or other infrastructure work is anticipated in a street within roughly five years, the city will generally delay resurfacing to avoid repaving before subsurface work. He cited Walnut Avenue as an example of a street held for future underground work.

City staff said three contracts will be issued this year for the city paving program and that Highland Woods was chosen now so the project could meet an IDOT appropriation deadline for Rebuild Illinois funds. The council voted to approve the resolutions; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff said Pavement Condition Index data will likely be refreshed after the next inventory cycle and that council will see additional resurfacing contracts focused on other neighborhoods in the city’s multi‑year road program.