January 10, 2018

Dear Neighbor: Earlier this week my office, in partnership with 40th Ward Ald. Pat O'Connor, the Department of Water, NPL (contractor executing the work), and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, held two community meetings to share information about the upcoming water main replacement project in Andersonville. If you were unable to attend these meetings, this email provides information shared at the meetings. Click here to view a handout provided by the Water Department.



Communication will be key to our community getting through this project. We will hold weekly check-in meetings about the project every Wednesday, beginning January 23, 9am, in the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Conference Room at 5153 N. Clark, Suite 228 (North Side Federal Savings building). These meetings are an opportunity to hear an update from the contractor and to get any project-related questions answered. We will send weekly email updates about the project, and recommend that businesses and residents alike sign up for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce text alerts for the project. Click here for more information on signing up for the text alerts.



The Department of Forestry will begin trimming trees in the project area next week, in a proactive attempt to prevent damage to trees as part of the project. Tree trimming will occur on Summerdale, Berwyn, Farragut, and Balmoral.



The complete project area includes: Clark between Bryn Mawr & Foster

between Bryn Mawr & Foster Farragut between Clark & Glenwood

Berwyn between Clark & Glenwood

Summerdale between Ashland & Glenwood

Balmoral between Ashland & Lakewood Work on the water main is expected to begin on Clark Street on Monday, January 21. Our office has been notified that permits for the work have been issued. Crews will complete work on Clark Street before moving onto side streets. The contractor working on the project, NPL, will provide two crews in order to expedite the project. One crew will begin working at Foster, working north, and the other at Bryn Mawr, and working their way south. Each crew will work on one block at a time, expecting to complete each block on Clark St. in about two weeks.



During work hours (7am - 4pm), parking will be restricted on the block where work is taking place, and two-way traffic will remain open. After work hours end, parking will open back up, meaning there will be no parking restrictions on nights or weekends. Crews expect to complete all work on Clark Street within 8 to 10 weeks.



When crews finish water main replacement on Clark St., they will move to the side streets. Crews will take a similar tactic on side streets, with one starting at the south, one starting north, and working to meet in the middle.



Complete street restoration will take place when crews are finished working. The city's asphalt plant does not open until weather is consistently warm, so we can expect that full restoration will not happen until late spring.



If you have any questions about this project or would like to sign up for our email list, please contact my office at 773-784-5277 or harry@48thward.org.



Sincerely,



Harry Osterman

Alderman, 48th Ward

