Saunders Road project likely delayed into 2026 as IDOT legal review stalls progress
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Summary
Director of Community Services Kevin Witt told the board that IDOT legal counsel has limited staff updates and the village does not expect construction on the Saunders Road STP project before 2026. Trustees raised concerns about contractor price holds and litigation implications if the contract is rebid.
Director Kevin Witt updated trustees on the Saunders Road STP project and said staff has had ‘‘no further update’’ because ‘‘legal counsel for IDOT has been very standoffish and, not allowing staff to really give us any kind of updates on where we stand with that.’’ He told the board staff ‘‘really don't anticipate any kind of work happening on that project till sometime, hopefully, first quarter, more likely 2026.’’
Trustee Jamerson pressed whether price holds will remain in effect if construction is pushed into the next year. Witt said the village has raised that concern with the engineering consultant GHA and that the situation is complicated by litigation between IDOT and the contractor; he said questions remain about whether the contract can be moved to a different letting or rebid without increasing legal exposure.
Witt said staff raised the cost-hold question at a meeting with GHA and that the village will continue to press for clarity. He described the village’s need to balance waiting for IDOT action and protecting the village from escalation of costs, but said he had no definitive answer at the meeting.
Why it matters: Saunders Road is a major capital project for which the village budgeted MFT expenditures; extended delay shifts capital spending into a later budget year and may increase project cost if contractor prices change or if rebidding is required. Vote or next steps: staff will continue to track the IDOT legal review, report back to the board and refine timing and budget estimates at the finance workshop and future meetings.
Provenance: Witt’s remarks about IDOT and project timing at 00:20:34–00:24:29 cover the delay, questions on rebid and price holds (topicintro); Trustee Jamerson's questions at 00:23:23–00:24:29 close the discussion (topicfinish).
