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Posted on: April 11, 2023

It's Road Construction Season

View an interactive map of capital improvement and other projects planned in Skokie, including:

Oakton Street Patching Underway
The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways is completing extensive roadway patching on Oakton Street, from Kolmar Avenue to McCormick Boulevard. The County is completing these temporary roadway improvements at the Village’s request, and in advance of planned resurfacing of Oakton Street currently anticipated to take place in 2025. Oakton Street, from Skokie Boulevard to McCormick Boulevard, is owned and maintained by Cook County. The temporary patching work includes removing large sections of deteriorated pavement, and replacing them with a smooth asphalt surface. Work is now underway and is expected to be completed by the end of July. Temporary lane closures may be implemented to accommodate this work; please use caution when traveling and be aware of workers and equipment in the area. Traffic will remain open in both directions throughout the project.
Pavement Crack Sealing
Annual pavement crack sealing work will take place at locations throughout the Village. This low-cost preventative measure is used to extend the life of asphalt pavement by preventing water from penetrating the surface of the pavement. Existing cracks must be cleaned before they can be sealed in order to allow for a good bond between the sealant and the pavement. This makes it a very dusty undertaking, but overall disturbance is minimal as work in any given area is completed within a matter of hours. Within a few days of cracks being sealed, the streets will be swept and work is then complete. Locations where crack sealing will be performed include:
- Birchwood – Leclaire to Lamon
- East Prairie – Church to Dempster
- Lake – East Prairie to Forestview
- Monticello – Dempster to Main
- Kenton – Oakton to Mulford
- Kenton – Howard to Mulford
- Mulford(N) – Kenton to Kilbourn
- Mulford(N) – Kostner to Crawford
- Mulford(S) – Kenton to Crawford
- Kirk – Kenton to Kilbourn
- Brummel – Knox to Kenton
- Elmwood – Searle to Warren
- Niles – Searle to Oakton
- Crain – Dead end to Niles Center
- Conrad – Dead end to Skokie Boulevard
- Greenleaf – Dead end to Niles Center
- Wright – Niles Center to Skokie Boulevard
- Elm – Dead end to Skokie Boulevard
- Latrobe – Church to Foster
- Foster – Lockwood to Terminal
- Karlov – Golf to Emerson
- Skokiana – Karlov to Kedvale
- Kedvale – Skokiana to Emerson
- Keystone – Tower to Emerson
- Tower – Karlov to Keystone
- Kedvale – Grant to Gross Point
Nicor Gas Main Construction on Oakton Street
Beginning April 24th, Nicor Gas will begin construction of a new large diameter gas main on Oakton Street from LaCrosse Avenue to Kenton Avenue. Oakton Street will have lane restrictions so traffic delays are expected. Please pay close attention to changed conditions, signs in the work zones, and be alert for workers and equipment. Construction on Oakton Street will be completed September 2023.
UPDATE as of 7/10/2023 – Temporary traffic signal patterns at Oakton Street and Skokie Boulevard will be removed on Tuesday, July 11, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Police will be on site to assist with traffic control; delays are expected. Traffic signals will return to pre-construction operations on July 11; however, work on Oakton Street will continue.
Multi-use Path Improvements on Old Orchard Road
Beginning the week of April 17, 2023, the Village’s contractor will begin working on multi-use path improvements on Old Orchard Road at both Skokie Boulevard and Harms Road. The work will take place along the existing path on the south side of Old Orchard Road. The project is expected to be completed by the end of July 2023. Expect periodic traffic delays Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sidewalk and Parking Closure North of 8047 Floral Ave
On Thursday, April 6, 2023, masonry work for the development at 8047 Floral Avenue will commence. As part of the construction, the sidewalk and parking on Brown Street from Floral Ave to the alley east of the building will be closed. For safety purposes, both the sidewalk and parking will be closed off by a fence. The parking on the north side of Brown Street will remain open. The work is expected to be completed in two to four weeks (weather permitting).
MWRD Sludge Line Pipe Replacement
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will be replacing an existing sludge line pipe along Howard Street from St. Louis Avenue to McCormick Boulevard, and along McCormick Boulevard from Howard Street to Touhy Avenue within the Village of Skokie. The work will primarily take place along existing bike path areas. The North Shore Channel Bike Path on McCormick and the bike path on Howard will remain open during construction. The sludge line pipe will be replaced primarily through directional drilling that will minimize disturbances. The project will be completed December 2023.
UPDATE as of 5/18/23 - Due to an obstruction while excavating for the new pipe line Parking Lot D located on McCormick south of Howard will be closed. It is expected to be closed for three weeks.
Railroad Repair on Touhy in Niles
The Village of Skokie was notified of a street closure on Touhy Avenue at the railroad tracks in the Village of Niles. This closure affects drivers within the Village of Skokie who attempt to travel westbound. For more information regarding detours and schedule of the work, visit https://www.vniles.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2210
Gross Point Road Reconstruction
Beginning June 5, 2023 the Illinois Department of Transportation will begin a road reconstruction project on Gross Point Road from just north of Golf Road to Old Orchard Road. The work will consist of new pavement, road widening, storm sewers, sidewalk improvements and traffic signal upgrades at Old Orchard Road. A new bike lane will also be added to each side of the roadway. During construction Gross Point Road will be one way south bound between Payne Street and Old Orchard Road. Traffic detours are expected to be in place through the winter, with project completion in June 2024.