DuPage County details plan to replace 70-year-old highway maintenance building at fairgrounds

DuPage County transportation staff on Wednesday updated the committee on plans to replace the county’s aging highway maintenance building with a new facility on the north end of the DuPage County fairgrounds in Wheaton.

The update came as Director Travio said the existing “140 building” sits on about 8.5 acres, is roughly 58,000 square feet and “is nearly 3 times too small for existing and future needs of the DOT.” Travio told the committee the current structure is approaching 70 years old and is beyond its useful life.

The project will relocate the Division of Transportation’s maintenance operations, fuel island, salt storage and equipment storage to a new consolidated facility adjacent to the county’s East Campus, Travio said. He said the project “maximizes our under roof storage” and will upgrade mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, bring the facility into ADA compliance and include green features such as solar panels and fully contained salt storage.

Why it matters: The move is intended to address capacity and safety concerns at the existing site, maintain continuous winter operations during construction and consolidate administrative and maintenance staff in one building, which county staff say will improve fleet circulation and equipment longevity.

Details and schedule - Site and design: The chosen location is at the north end of the fairgrounds adjacent to the East Campus. The site plan includes a drive connection to the North Ring Road, a DOT-operated bridge over a small creek, a fuel island (diesel), a wash bay for winter truck deicing removal and new green space with a berm to screen views from Manchester Road. The plan will also replace public restrooms that are currently in condemned grandstands as mitigation tied to the fairgrounds improvements. - Approvals: Travio said the Wheaton City Council granted special-use approval unanimously, 6-0, following a conditional zoning board approval. He said the approvals complete most of the special-use process and allow the project to move toward public bidding. - Procurement and construction timeline: The county has engaged RM Chin as the owner’s representative for construction oversight. Staff expect to advertise the project for bid either in early–mid November or, alternatively, in January; construction would begin in spring 2026 if acceptable bids are received. Travio said preliminary work includes relocating a sanitary sewer in the northeast corner of the fairgrounds site. If schedules hold, the county expects to occupy the new facility in 2028, but Travio cautioned the timeline is weather-, bid- and contractor-dependent.

Questions and impacts - Parking: Member Zay asked whether the county will have designated parking in the 509 parking deck. Travio said the deck “has plenty of capacity,” estimating the deck holds “like a thousand spaces” while the DOT will need “like a 100 spaces,” and that DOT staff would be parked on a middle floor with visitor and ADA spaces near the front door. Travio said a new elevator will be added in the southeast corner of the deck to improve access for DOT staff and visitors. - Fairgrounds events and schedule conflicts: Member Evans asked whether the county will include liquidated damages in contracts to ensure the fair can run if construction runs late. Travio said the county will cordon off the construction footprint (about 100 feet adjacent to the creek) and that contractors will not be permitted to work in that area during the fair; he described the approach as a scheduling and site-control mitigation rather than a penalty-focused solution. - Site features and community concerns: Deacon Garcia and others raised concerns about trees, a public garden and potential bird strikes on the building’s southern glass face. Travio said staff are coordinating relocation of orchard, beehives and garden space within the fairgrounds and have asked architects to propose bird-safe window treatments; at minimum, he said, the windows will have blinds and other treatments are under consideration.

Remaining steps and dependencies County staff will finalize permitting and the bid package, decide whether to advertise in November or hold to January, and present recommended construction award(s) to the county board if acceptable bids are received. Travio said facilities management is updating a campus-wide storage assessment and reviewing leases (sheriff, elections) to determine future reuse of the existing 140 building once the new facility is occupied.

The project is contingent on acceptable contractor bids, winter weather and the contractor’s means and methods; staff emphasized several times the schedule could shift if bidding or construction conditions change.