Timeline set for River Road construction in Seneca

If all goes to plan, the village of Seneca anticipates having a contractor begin work on a River Road washout by mid-February.

After the Illinois Department of Transportation gives its final OK, the village will be able to send the $300,000 to $350,000 project to bid at the end of December, and open and approve bids in mid- to late January.

Despite the project operating on an emergency timeline, the village must follow the state’s rules for a timeline regarding the advertising, opening and accepting bid process. Once work begins, contractors will operate within a 45 work day window of completion.

After receiving about 4 inches of rain in a three-hour period earlier this summer, a portion of River Road collapsed west of Route 170, making the road impassable and resulting in the road’s closure.

Commissioners have previously noted major repairs to the structure will have to be made within the next three to five years, but they will seek grant funding that covers 80% of those costs.