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Flossmoor approves contracts to fill 6.93 miles of roadway cracks, install public works fence

Flossmoor is gearing up for projects as the winter weather starts to break, with asphalt crack repairs and a new public works security fence soon on the way.

The Flossmoor Village Board voted unanimously Monday, March 6, to award a $76,862 contract to Denler Inc. for the village’s fiscal year 2023 crack filling program. A total of 6.93 miles over 36 roads are expected to be addressed by the program across seven neighborhoods.

“The purpose of a pavement crack filling program is to clean out cracks in newer asphalt pavement and fill them with a fiber asphalt sealant that prevents water and debris from filling the cracks, which leads to pavement deterioration and potholes from the freeze-thaw cycles we experience every year in the winter,” Public Works Director John Brunke said. “It is estimated that a good pavement crack filling program can extend the life cycle of pavement five-plus years, depending on the existing pavement, compared to streets that don’t receive the treatment.”

The streets to be addressed by the program are considered in “good” condition — streets that have a Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating of 6 to 8, according to Brunke. That is because crack filling works best on roads in good condition, with “minimal to moderate” cracks forming, he explained. Crack filling cannot be done efficiently and may cause more harm on streets with more severe cracking, per Brunke’s report.

“When pavement gets cracked to that point, it really needs to be resurfaced,” Brunke said.

But with roads in good condition, crack filling can prolong the life of the road surface, Brunke explained. Trustee Gary Daggett applauded the plan, saying it was “pennies on the dollar” to buy five extra years before replacement.

“That’s good to extend it while we can,” Daggett said.

Denler was the lowest of four bidders. A 4% contingency was also approved with the contract in case actual materials needed come in over the estimated amount, which would bring the cost up to $80,000.

“This is new to us this year,” Brunke said. “We’ve never done pavement crack filling on our streets; we’ve only done them on parking lots when we sealcoat.”

Brunke noted it should take roughly a month for Denler to complete the work once started. No roads are expected to be closed during the work, with crews tackling half of roads and utilizing flaggers during the short work and dry times, Brunke said. 

Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers previously recommended the village consider crack filling as part of its annual maintenance program. An additional $70,000 has been budgeted for an upcoming pavement patching program to be developed and completed this summer, according to Brunke. 

“I think it’s critical that we implement this in order for us to catch up with some more necessary pavement repairs — some resurfacing that we need to get to sooner, rather than later,” Mayor Michelle Nelson said.

At the same meeting, the village board also voted unanimously to approve its consent agenda, which included a contract to pay K Brothers Fence Inc. $35,095 for installation of a 6-foot black steel chain link security fence at the Public Works Service Center. The fence is to cover the south and east perimeter of the property, as the north end has an existing fence and a natural barrier on the west side was deemed sufficient.

Dan Milovanovic, Flossmoor’s assistant public works director, wrote in a report to the board that the service center has seen instances of illegal dumping and trespassing since it was built in 1996. Those acts come with extra costs for dumpster pickups or personnel hauling away large items, such as sofas.

Trespassing has included adolescents, lost motorists and salespeople, Milovanovic explained. None of those interactions has been contentious but highlighted security vulnerabilities, he explained. 

Flossmoor police advised public works staff that a fence would deter such trespassers.

K Brothers was the lowest of three bidders. The fence also includes two remote-controlled sliding gates for village vehicle access to the property. Additional costs are expected for electrical work needed to power the gates, Milovanovic wrote.

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