Carol Stream details 2026 road, sidewalk and bike-path projects, grants cover a majority of some work

Village staff on March 2 walked trustees through a slate of transportation projects scheduled across the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, highlighting a mix of annual maintenance, grant-funded reconstructions and new sidewalk and bike-path connections.

Adam Frederick led the presentation on streets and sidewalks. He said the flexible pavement program is out to bid with an April opening and estimated the 2026 flexible pavement work at about 63,000 square yards with an expected project cost under $2.5 million. Frederick noted that the village’s long-term strategy is to perform more frequent, lower-cost preventative maintenance to preserve pavement condition rather than larger, costlier reconstruction projects.

Key 2026 and near-term projects listed by staff included: - Fullerton Avenue rehabilitation and sidewalk extension (Gary Avenue to Schmel), total cost about $2.8 million, 27% grant-funded. - Gary Avenue reconstruction with culvert replacement (Golden Hill Street to the village limit), total cost about $1.7 million, roughly 71% grant-funded including Rebuild Illinois bond funds and a $250,000 DCEO grant. - Lyes Road resurfacing (design stage): estimated cost about $1.9 million, 42% grant-funded; construction intended to start after July 4 to avoid conflicts with holiday events. - Morton Road reconstruction with a new bike path connecting to existing trails: estimated about $4.2 million, 58% grant-funded. - Sidewalk projects (Kimberly/Keyhoe, Saint Charles corridor, Main Place and Gunnerson) with varying grant shares (one sidewalk project noted at roughly 56–63% grant funding); one Main Place/Gunnerson sidewalk application decision is pending this spring.

Trustees asked practical questions about materials and maintenance, including whether asphalt paths or concrete sidewalks have different long-term costs. Frederick said maintenance profiles differ — concrete shows more joint separations and cracking, while asphalt can show shrinkage cracks — and that right-of-way width and utility pole placement often determine which treatment is feasible.

Frederick said the village will coordinate closely with DuPage County on the Saint Charles Road sidewalk because the corridor is a county highway and county reconstruction plans may affect timing and placement of village-funded sidewalks. Some projects are being advanced in phases (phase I engineering) to resolve county coordination, grant deadlines and placement issues.

Next steps: staff will return with design documents, bid schedules and funding confirmations; construction windows were noted (e.g., Lyes Road post–July 4) and board members were invited to submit follow-up questions before formal project authorization.