Drainage Projects Table of Contents
Please click on the Project name to view details and updates

73rd Place and Maplewood Drive

Cork Ave. and 71st St. Ditch

Blackstone and Oak Grove

Blackstone west of Oak Grove

Ongoing Maintenance Programs

73rd Place and Maplewood Drive Drainage Project

Update: May 27, 2009 Public Works Crews back filled all drain tiles and basins, leveled the ground, replaced sod and planted grass seed in the repaired areas. When the area in the back of the properties dries out crews will level the ground and seed will be applied.
Update: May 5, 2009 Public Works Crews started the 73rd Place and Maplewood Drive Drainage Project. This project is designed to move standing storm water from the rear of adjoining residential and commercial properties and direct it into new storm sewers. This has been an problematic area for many years. New storm sewers were installed along 73rd Place and at the corner of 73rd Pl. and Maplewood Drive. Drainage tiles from the rear of the affected properties will then be connected into the upgraded sewer basins. When the construction phase is complete and the weather allows grass will be placed in the repaired areas and the driveways will be patched at the point of the new culverts. Planning for drainage upgrades in other areas of the village are now underway and will proceed as funding becomes available.

Cork Ave. and 71st St. Ditch Project

Update: May 27, 2009 After the heavy rain fall of almost two inches on May 26th  this project performed as it was designed to do by swiftly moving the runoff to the 71st Ditch and preventing it from collecting in the residential properties.
Update: May 22, 2009 Public Works Crews leveled the ground, added topsoil and seeded the repaired areas. This project is nearing completion and Public works will be monitoring the area for grass growth and water flow.
Update: May 18, 2009 Public Works Crews began to repair and replace the asphalt of the driveways that received the new culverts.
Update: May 11, 2009 Public Works Crews continued to dig and modify drainage ditches.
Update: April 28, 2009 Public Works Crews continue on the Cork Ave. and 71st St. Ditch project by installing several more culverts to aid the flow of rain water run off. They also began to dig and modify the drainage ditches. Soon as the weather permits the driveways that received new culverts will be resurfaced at the point of the culvert placement. Seed will be applied to the ditches and the surrounding engineered areas.
Update: April 10, 2009 Public Works Crews end the week on the Cork Ave. and 71st St. Ditch project by clearing the area for the new drain tiles and installing several culverts to aid the flow of rain water run off. The purpose of this project is to alleviate water run off into residential properties and to direct the water to the 71^st ditch via the new drainage ditches that were engineered.

Blackstone and Oak Grove Project

Update: May 27, 2009 After the heavy rain fall of almost two inches on May 26th  this project performed as it was designed to do by swiftly moving the runoff to the 71st Ditch and preventing it from collecting in the residential properties.
Update: May 22, 2009 Public Works Crews leveled the ground, added topsoil and seeded the repaired areas. This project is nearing completion and Public works will be monitoring the area for grass growth and water flow.
Update: May 18, 2009 Public Works Crews began to repair and replace the asphalt of the driveways that received the new culverts.
Update: April 2, 2009, Blackstone and Oak Grove Drainage Issues Addressed
This project began in mid March of this year. Its purpose is to alleviate water run off into residential properties and to direct the water to the 71^st ditch via the new drainage ditches that were engineered. The ditches were first dug and then new culverts were installed in several of the surrounding properties. This week (3-29-09) Public Works was installing the connecting tiles to the 71^st Street ditch. Soon as the weather permits the driveways that received new culverts will be resurfaced at the point of the culvert placement. Seed will be applied to the ditches and the surrounding engineered areas.

Mayor Wasowicz and the Village Board have realized the importance of redoing the drainage system throughout the village. In this area the materials were available and Public Works acted swiftly to have it completed before the heavy spring rains come to ensure the protection of the residential properties in the area. Public Works is now in the process of doing the same type of project at the far north end of Cork Avenue. In mid April Public Works is scheduled to start another project between Archer, Terrace Drive and 73rd Place. Details will be posted soon.

Blackstone west of Oak Grove Project

May 2009, This project was designed to aid the flow of rain runoff  from residential properties via a new culvert that was placed under Blackstone to the adjacent ditch. This project proceeded swiftly and was completed within a very short time frame. The culvert was placed underneath the street. Another culvert was placed at a residential property and the adjacent ditch was modified. The street and the driveway were repaired with asphalt, the ditch had topsoil and seed added to complete the project.

Ongoing Maintenance Programs

Another innovation by the Mayor Wasowicz and the Village Board was to apply for the services of the Cook County SWAP program in efforts to proactively maintain the ditches throughout the Village. This project was spearheaded by Trustee Kranig. He contacted the County and applied to have swap come out to the village on a regular basis and have them clear the drainage ditches of debris that would hamper the flow of rain runoff. The County SWAP will be coming to the village once a month, or in some cases twice, throughout the year. The County SWAP service comes to the Village at no cost. The maintenance program is two fold in that saves the Village Public Works Department man hours that would be used if Public Works employees were doing the ditch maintenance, and frees them up to do the other important services that they provide to the residents.

Update: March 9, 2009, Public Works crews are out clearing storm sewers and catch basins after heavy weekend rains. 

Update: February 26, 2009, Public Works crews are out clearing storm sewers, catch basins and repairing sewers after heavy rains. 

In late December 2008,  Trustee Jim Gabrys (Public Works Committee Chair) and Mayor Wasowicz were aware that heavy rains were approaching our area. In a proactive measure they ordered several tons of sand to fill hundreds of sand bags and have them placed in the areas of Justice known to have standing water issues. Trustee Jeff Kranig called Congressman Dan Lipinski’s office and asked for assistance in getting sandbags. Congressman Lipinski had hundreds of sandbags delivered to Public Works. When the sandbags and the sand arrived at the Public Works building volunteers tirelessly worked to fill them up. On hand to fill sand bags were Mayor Wasowicz, Trustees; Jim Gabrys, Mike Murray, Rich Berkowicz, Police and Fire Commissioner John Fairman, Village Webmaster; Gerry Mendralla, Mayor’s son Christopher and ESDA workers. As they filled and placed the sand bags on pallets, Public Works diligently delivered them to the before mentioned areas to protect residents property.

 Several weeks later when more heavy rains were expected, Trustee Gabrys, under the direction of Mayor Wasowicz again took proactive measures to protect those residents and areas affected by rising flood waters. Public Works placed pallets of sandbags in those areas to have them at the ready in case the rain waters should rise. They also placed sand bags on 88^th Court. to help divert any excessive rain water run off to the sewers to protect those residents that live on 73^rd Place. Many residents have called or visited Village Hall to express their thanks and gratitude for the village’s aggressiveness on the flooding issues and in protecting their homes and property.