Village of Weston outlines Sheldon Alderson roundabout plan, timing and property impacts

Isaac Nolan, the Village of Weston staff engineer, opened a public information meeting to explain plans for the Sheldon Alderson Roundabout and asked attendees to hold questions until the end. "This is the public information meeting for the Sheldon Alderson Roundabout," Nolan said, and provided contact information for follow-up.

Nolan said the project traces to 2022 discussions connected to a tax increment district and the Schofield Avenue corridor plan. A traffic-impact analysis completed in 2024 considered a larger four-way intersection with turn lanes and a compact roundabout; the roundabout design, Nolan said, was selected to improve traffic flow. He told attendees the village retained MSA Professional Services in 2025 to prepare the current roundabout design and that bidding is planned for 2026, with contractors expected to build during the school summer break so major work is done before students return.

Why it matters: the project will require relocating utilities and altering pavement in the intersection. Nolan said sanitary manholes, drinking-water valves and storm sewers that now sit in the wheel path will be moved; the village also plans to consolidate duplicate sanitary lines on Jelenic so fewer mains require long-term maintenance. "There are five or six properties where there's sanitary lateral on Jelenic. We'll get reconnected," he said. Contractors will stage utility work first, rebuild the road, then restore disturbed areas with topsoil and seed.

Residents raised questions about schedule and property effects. One attendee asked whether this roundabout is the same size as the earlier south-side Alderson project and whether the three-month window was realistic; presenters said the prior work combined multiple projects across blocks, while this effort focuses on the intersection and related utility work, which explains the shorter planned window. The village will include a contract stipulation requiring work that affects school access to be completed before students return.

Property impacts and easement: a condo resident asked about flooding on a low parcel adjacent to the intersection. Nolan said the village plans a permanent drainage easement on the condo association property to install a catch basin and that the village would own the structure. He described it as a small structure—"little 12 or 15 inch structure"—and said the easement would allow the village to access and maintain the inlet while owners retain title to the land. The village will notify property owners in advance about any work that requires temporary access or short-term interruption of service.

Service interruptions and staging: staff said reconnection of laterals or water-main ties may require brief water-use limitations for a day while crews complete tie-ins, and that residents will receive advance notice. The village will evaluate contractor prequalification statements, accept bids from qualified firms, select the lowest responsible bidder, and hold weekly contractor meetings to update schedules.

Traffic management: presenters described likely detour routes—Park Ridge, Labrador and Jelenic to Birch—with Cofield Avenue likely signed as the official detour. They cautioned that local drivers will find additional ways through the neighborhood and that the Highway 29 crossing limits north-south alternate routes on the south side of Jelenic.

What happens next: staff will finish the design, publish prequalification and bidding materials, upload the presentation and visuals to the project website, and notify affected property owners about easements, short-duration water shutoffs and staging plans. Nolan encouraged attendees to leave contact information for construction updates and to direct follow-up questions to the public-works team.

The meeting ended after a brief period of public comment and questions; presenters said materials will be posted online and they will accept further questions by phone or email.