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Deerpath Streetscape project on schedule; Bank Lane work delayed one week for material timing
Summary
Public works director Michael Thomas updated the Lake Forest City Council on the Deerpath Streetscape and related Bank Lane work, reporting approved IDOT submittals, ongoing sidewalk and conduit installation, irrigation and structural soil placement, and a one-week delay on Bank Lane brickwork to match supplier runs.
City public works staff told the Lake Forest City Council on June 2 that the Deerpath Streetscape project is progressing as scheduled and that recent approvals and construction work are on track, though the city postponed planned overnight Bank Lane work by one week to align with a supplier run for Unilock brick.
Public Works Director Michael Thomas gave the monthly update, thanked retiring staff and introduced two staff members who will step into leadership roles, and then reviewed field work. Thomas said IDOT-approved submittals and several recent tasks — sidewalk removal, electrical conduit installation, storm sewer and catch-basin work near Walgreens, the start of irrigation installation, and placement of base course material beneath structural soil in planting beds — are complete or underway.
“We really have not had too many surprises,” Thomas told council, summarizing the contractor’s progress and noting that the contractor began some irrigation work and structural base placement. Thomas said crews will next begin installation of bump-outs that will narrow portions of Deerpath and that the city and contractor continue daily outreach to local businesses. He noted one recently fixed problem: a battery at Westminster and Green Bay that had run out of charge and was replaced.
Regarding Bank Lane, Thomas said the preconstruction meeting is complete and overnight work remains scheduled for 15 to 20 nonconsecutive days. He said the start was moved from June 9 to June 16 because the ordered Unilock brick will be produced at the end of the month; the city avoided tearing up Bank Lane without immediate access to the matching brick. Thomas also said the city will host a drop‑in session for Bank Lane businesses and a public “meet the engineers” event on June 12 outside City Hall.
Thomas said the city’s communications team is coordinating with the contractor (Bernard) and with the Chamber of Commerce to maintain daily communication with affected businesses. He reminded council that IDOT’s on-site engineer’s office is at 222 Wisconsin Building for project questions.
There were no formal actions required; council asked questions about staging and about whether access and detours were being managed. Thomas said the project team will continue to monitor detours and traffic signals and return with future progress reports.
