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Unseasonably warm winter weather allowed the Lake County Department of Transportation (LCDOT) to start utility work early on some road projects.
County road projects typically begin in April, but the county is “trending earlier” this year because of the warmer winter, according to county spokesman Alex Carr.
“It all depends on the weather, as it is not uncommon to see significant snow in late February and March,” Carr said.
This February was the warmest in the Chicago metro area in 150 years, making it the second hottest February on record.
High average temperatures can largely be attributed to: “Strong” El Niño Weather experts have said there has been long-term warming due to climate change in recent months.
The natural weather phenomenon El Niño is when sea surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean near the Equator are above average. Occurring on average every two to seven years, the climate pattern generally begins in the summer months and peaks in intensity during the winter months.
For the Chicago metro area, this means a milder, drier winter overall.
LCDOT assistant district engineer Kevin Carrier said utility, drainage and excavation work can be done this time of year to help the department prepare for the heart of construction season.
“While we are more limited than you might think, we like to get a head start on construction projects whenever possible,” he said. “Mother Nature can quickly reverse a rainy spring that can limit the amount of work we can do; Therefore, when the good weather comes, we will take advantage of it. “As we’ve seen, dry, 50-degree weather is the best we could ask for this time of year.”
Gas mains removal and replacement Aptakisic Road It started again when temperatures reached 50 and 60 degrees. The county road project on Aptakisic Road extends 2 miles between State Route 83 and Buffalo Grove Road in the villages of Long Grove and Buffalo Grove.
Glenn Petko, LCDOT’s civil engineer, said more utility work could begin on several projects. Ela on Long Grove Road And Illinois Route 59 at Grand Avebut the timeline is still unclear.
According to Carrier, the paving work will have to wait, as asphalt plants do not open until there is confidence that the winter weather is over. Typically plants bloom in April or May.
Carrier said starting earlier than expected at the beginning of the year would not impact construction budgets but could help keep work on schedule.
“Inclement weather will undoubtedly impact us to some extent, so sometimes it can be beneficial to take advantage of the opportunity to finish work early in the year to ensure projects progress on schedule,” Carrier said.