Lake Forest council approves contingencies, extends temporary signal for Deerpath streetscape project

Lake Forest — The City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to approve contingency funds and extend a temporary traffic signal as work begins on the Deerpath Streetscape project.

The council approved three related items: a temporary-traffic-signal services agreement with the owner of the existing portable signal, authorization of a $150,000 construction contingency payable to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and authorization of a $150,000 construction contingency and miscellaneous services payable to DeLand Construction LLC. The council’s vote was a roll call that resulted in eight yays and zero nays.

The measures aim to cover unforeseen costs on the federally funded ITEP (Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program) streetscape project and to maintain the portable signal at Westminster and Green Bay through the active construction period. City staff said IDOT does not include a local contingency above the award amount, so the city is adding a 10% contingency overall and splitting it roughly half to IDOT and half to the contractor to speed payment of ineligible or miscellaneous items.

“IDOT will pay the project completely and then they'll invoice us and we'll pay them back for our share,” Superintendent of Engineering Byron Coutts said. Coutts…