Culvert replacement is an important part of the road referendum
to prevent the collapse of our Village roads.
In the General Primary Election on June 28, 2022, the Village of Hawthorn Woods plans to have a referendum question on the ballot with regards to funding road repair and maintenance of Village roads, including the replacement of large diameter culverts.
It is estimated that approximately $2.7 million of the $28 million requested is necessary to begin the replacement of large diameter culverts under Village roads. Below are some key details regarding the replacement of the large diameter culverts:
- The road referendum is not about aesthetics, it is about safety.
- An independent engineering study, dated March 8, 2013, identified failing corrugated metal culverts under Village roads.
- The corrugated metal pipes have a shorter useful life than other materials, often failing within 40 years of installation.
- Culverts will be replaced with reinforced concrete pipe with an expected lifespan of 100 years.
- The Village replaced the Onondaga Drive culvert and Bruce Circle culverts in 2015 and the Darlington Drive culverts is 2018.
- Some of the locations with large diameter culverts still in need of replacement are under Indian Creek Road, Mark Drive, Washitay Avenue, Greenbriar Lane, and Elm Street.
- Similar to the Darlington bridge culvert collapse in 2017, additional culverts will fail, forcing emergency road closure and detours within the Village.
- As the last road bonds expire from your property tax bill this year, we can basically fund a new program working with that same allocation. For most residents, we can provide new and safer streets without an impact to your current tax bill.
- However, we need your permission to do that in the General Primary Election on June 28, 2022.
