City of Lake Forest, IL

The East Skokie Drainage District will begin working on the second phase of the Skokie River Channel Improvements Project located between Westleigh Road and the Hickory Court pedestrian bridge. While this is not a City of Lake Forest project, we're helping to get the word out about the construction activities.

The scope of the work for this project includes stabilizing both the east and west streambanks of the open channel of the Skokie River located within the East Skokie Drainage District’s Easement. The work shall consist of excavation and construction of streambank stabilization practices such as gabion baskets, stone protection, tree revetment and streambank reshaping. 

The Contractor, V3 Companies, Ltd., intends to commence construction activities the week of Monday, September 26. The project is planned for two stages with construction beginning in fall 2022 and finishing in spring or early summer of 2023. Work hours will occur between 7 am-4 pm weekdays until November 1, 2022, when work hours may be extended to 7 am-8 pm weekdays and 8 am-6 pm on weekends. Specific scheduling of work will be highly sensitive to weather conditions and storm events. 

Construction access is planned through Waveland Park via Butler Drive and possibly from Valley Road to access the west bank.  During the construction process, residents can expect:

• Increased truck traffic, dirt and equipment noise.
• Orange construction fencing will mark off the construction area.
• The pedestrian bridge at Waveland Court will be closed during construction.
• The Hickory Court pedestrian bridge will remain open. 
• Final landscaping will occur in 2023 after construction is completed.

These efforts will be coordinated by the District’s Project Coordinator, Patricia Werner. If you have any questions or concerns related to this project, please contact: Patricia Werner, ESDD Project Coordinator, at (847) 903-2052 or wernerbaker@att.net.