The City of West Chicago has selected HR Green to lead the City’s second phase of their Industrial Streets Improvement Program. Following completion of the Phase A design in 2025, the City moved forward with an award for Phase B on Industrial Drive—extending from Downs Drive north to Hawthorne Lane for nearly a mile of reconstruction—reflecting the City’s confidence in the team’s ability.
“After Phase A, the City saw how our team approached constructability, and they chose to move straight into Phase B with confidence,” said Jeff Strzalka, HR Green Senior Project Manager. “We’re proud to continue that momentum on Industrial Drive and help the City deliver a project that strengthens its logistics capabilities, attracts additional manufacturing investment, and supports job retention and growth within the community.”
The program targets aging roadways and utility infrastructure in the City’s Manufacturing District, where pavement conditions, drainage performance, and water systems have reached the point that replacement is required to support daily operations and long-term reinvestment.
The project scope includes full-depth concrete pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, storm sewer repairs, sanitary sewer spot repairs, water main replacement, and replacement of street lighting. The project also adds new sidewalks extending pedestrian connectivity within the City’s industrial hub. The pedestrian-focused improvements build on the initial Phase A project, which includes new sidewalk installation to remove a non-motorized barrier across the Union Pacific Railroad spur tracks on Downs Drive and Western Drive, improving access for employees and visitors in the industrial subdivision. The railroad work is being permitted through the Illinois Commerce Commission and Union Pacific Railroad, including the auger and jacking a casing pipe for water main beneath the spur tracks.
Because the corridor supports heavy truck volumes and around-the-clock manufacturing and delivery activity, the design places strong emphasis on constructability and continuity of service. Maintaining vehicular access and water supply 24/7 requires a detailed maintenance-of-traffic strategy that provides a one-way detour, and stages work to keep roadways open and preserve driveway access. The water main replacement is similarly complex as many facilities require continuous water supply to support operations. Water connection details at 1”=10’ scale are included to show water main pressure connections, existing and proposed valve locations, and subsequently how the old service lines are abandoned.
The project area includes Kress Creek and involves critical wetlands and floodplain considerations, requiring wetland delineation and coordination with DuPage County stormwater. Floodplain analysis will include an incremental compensatory storage analysis to document impacts for the 10-year and 100-year flood elevations, with a design objective of achieving reduced floodplain volume within impacted areas. In parallel, additional approvals include DuPage County DOT review and an Illinois EPA permit for the water main replacement.
Phase B of the City of West Chicago’s Industrial Streets Improvement Program will deliver a safer, more reliable corridor that supports the Manufacturing District’s day-to-day operations while positioning the area for long-term reinvestment.
