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Committee affirms countywide guardrail maintenance contract after safety questions
Summary
The committee confirmed a countywide guardrail maintenance contract with Northern Contract Inc. after members pressed staff about audits and installation safety; staff said the county issues work orders and engineers inspect work under an annual maintenance contract.
The Will County Public Works & Transportation committee voted to confirm award of the countywide guardrail maintenance contract to Northern Contract Inc., an annual contract used to respond to crash‑related repairs and to correct guardrails that lean or otherwise need maintenance.
Member Reavis raised safety concerns during discussion, asking whether improperly installed guardrails — bolts installed facing the wrong way or overlapping panels — are audited systematically. “If they're installed improperly ... it's very dangerous,” the member said, urging additional auditing.
Staff from the transportation department responded that engineers inspect guardrail work and that contractors are given specific work orders, typically on an annual maintenance schedule. The department said it has used an annual maintenance contract for several years to respond to crashes and to repair or replace guardrails when needed.
The committee asked staff to continue focusing on inspection and audit procedures; the motion to confirm the contract was moved, seconded and carried on the consent vote.
What happens next: the contractor will be authorized to perform guardrail maintenance work under the county’s standard process; staff said inspections occur before payment authorization. The transcript does not record a dollar figure for the contract or a scheduled start date.
