Manhattan’s Eastern Avenue reconstruction project will take another step forward this month as contractors prepare to install temporary road binder, while the village prepares to accept bids for the final phase of construction.

Village Engineer Mark reported to the board that two utility box covers have been completed on Eastern Avenue, allowing work to proceed to the next phase. Contractors will install four inches of binder to enable the road to reopen temporarily while the village finalizes plans for complete reconstruction.

“The two box covers are done, next they’re going to come in and they’re going to lay down 4 inches of binder so that we can go ahead and open the road,” Mark told trustees during Tuesday’s meeting.

The village will open bid proposals for the final Eastern Avenue reconstruction on June 26, with plans to award the contract at the July 1 village board meeting. The project timeline calls for completion by the end of September, though officials acknowledge weather and other factors could affect the schedule.

Village officials expect the bidding process to benefit from timing that avoids competition with Illinois Department of Transportation projects. “The guys that might not get a project with IDOT at the June letting are going to be looking for work, so that’s a good sign for us,” Mark explained.

Once the binder is installed, the village will maintain the temporary road surface as they have been doing with other portions of Eastern Avenue until full reconstruction begins. The road will need to be closed again during the final construction phase.

The Eastern Avenue project has been a significant undertaking for the village, with officials working to balance the need for infrastructure improvements with minimizing disruption to residents and businesses. The phased approach allows for continued access while ensuring proper utility work is completed before final road construction.

Village officials said the reconstruction should take approximately two months, though they emphasized that completion depends on weather conditions and contractor scheduling. The project represents a major infrastructure investment aimed at improving traffic flow and road conditions on one of Manhattan’s key thoroughfares.

The September completion target would finish the project before winter weather arrives, allowing for proper curing of new pavement and reducing the risk of weather-related delays.

Trustees expressed appreciation for the progress on the long-awaited project, which has required coordination between multiple contractors and utility companies to ensure all underground work is completed before final road reconstruction.