Austin Avenue Improvements Update (5/19/2025):
-Upcoming work on Oakton St. and Austin Ave.
- Milling the existing asphalt surface on Oakton St. on Tuesday, 05/20/25.
- Place 3/4” of poly binder course hot asphalt mix on Oakton St. from Lehigh Ave. to Austin Ave. on Wednesday, 05/21/2025
- Milling 1.5” asphalt surface on Austin Ave. to correct pavement around structure frames from Cleveland to Madison, and on the Austin and Main St. intersection.
- Place Longitudinal joint sealant on Austin Ave. and Oakton St. under the proposed asphalt surface paving joints.
- Frames and lids adjustment special to finish grade on Oakton St.
- Install detector loops for the traffic signal on Oakton St.
- Place HMA surface course 1.5” on Oakton St. from Lehigh to Austin Ave.
- Place HMA surface course 1.5” on Austin Ave. for correction areas.
CURRENT TRAFFIC STAGE
- Temporary lane closures on Oakton St. during the frames and lids adjustment special and pavement milling and resurfacing. Please be patient and drive with caution.
Austin Avenue Improvements Update (3/20/2025): The contractor intends to replace intermittent segments of concrete sidewalk over the next two weeks to improve the overall quality of the Village’s sidewalk system. Sidewalk that is heaved or broken is planned for replacement. The schedule is dependent on favorable weather and availability of the contractor’s workforce.
In partnership with the Village of Skokie, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration, the Village of Morton Grove will begin improvements to Austin Avenue, between Oakton Street and Main Street, and to Oakton Street, between Lehigh Avenue and Austin Avenue, in June 2024. Austin Avenue and Oakton Street serve a variety of commercial, industrial, and single-family residential uses in this area. Maintaining and upgrading the roadway and underground utility infrastructure are critical to meeting the needs of their users, including residents, businesses, and visitors. Planned improvements consist of the following:
- Austin Avenue will be resurfaced and partially reconstructed from south of Oakton Street to Main The curb and gutter will be replaced, and the parking lane pavement will be reconstructed.
- A new storm sewer will be installed under Austin Avenue from Oakton Street to Cleveland Street and just south of the intersection of Austin Avenue and Oakton Street.
- A new sanitary sewer will be installed under Oakton Street from east of the Milwaukee District North (MD- N) railroad tracks to Austin Avenue. The Oakton Street pavement will be resurfaced, where the sanitary sewer is installed.
- The traffic signal equipment at the intersection of Austin Avenue and Oakton Street will be
Residents and businesses along the affected area have been provided written notice of the construction activities and the opportunity to engage with the project team. Meetings with businesses along the corridors are scheduled for mid-May. The Village expects the full project to be completed in June 2025.
The construction activities will significantly affect traffic moving through the intersection of Austin Avenue and Oakton Street. The work will also affect ingress and egress from properties serviced from Austin Avenue and Oakton Street, and access to on-street parking. Drivers in the area are advised to pay close attention to construction signage and plan for delays.
The Federal Highway Administration is providing 70 percent of the funding for the project. IDOT has contracted with Acura, Inc., to serve as the project’s general contractor. Construction engineering is being provided by the Ciorba Group, Inc., which is coordinating with the Village, businesses, and residents about construction activities and will provide construction management services throughout the project.
This project is the result of successful partnerships between governments at municipal, state, and federal levels. The Village of Morton Grove, Village of Skokie, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration share the common goal of investing in transportation and utility infrastructure to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency in our community.