County engineer: Miller Road bridge work to reopen in December; spring closure planned for creek realignment

Summary

County engineer Daryl reported utility coordination is complete for the Rango Road/Miller Road project. The west leg of Miller Road was closed for bridge work; the county expects to reopen the closure in early December, then re-close a segment in spring for approximately two months to finish a creek realignment and other work.

Daryl, McHenry County engineer, updated the committee on progress at Rango Road and Miller Road. Utilities have been coordinated, timber piles are being driven to create load-transfer pads through deep peat soils, and the west leg of Miller Road (closed earlier for a new bridge) is scheduled to reopen in early December, subject to weather and outstanding utility work.

Daryl said the project requires a spring reclosure of Miller Road's west leg to complete creek realignment work that will transfer Woods Creek from the east side to the west side of the roadway; that spring closure is expected to last about two months. Work on timber piles and the load-transfer platform will continue over winter as weather allows. The county engineer emphasized the geotechnical challenge (20–40 feet of peat in locations) and described driving timber piles and constructing a gravel/concrete pad to distribute loads on the soft soils.

Ending: The committee accepted the staff report and members were told the project will proceed through winter piling work with a planned spring closure to complete the creek move and finish bridge construction.