Stearns School Road Emergency Culvert Repair

Lake County Division of Transportation

OBJECTIVE

In March of 2021, the Lake County Division of Transportation (Lake County DOT) closed a section of Stearns School Road between Hutchins Road and Hunt Club Road after discovering that a culvert was failing. Just days after the road was closed, the culvert and roadway collapsed.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Hampton, Lenzini, and Renwick, Inc. (HLR) provided environmental and survey services to assist the Lake County Division of Transportation with the emergency repair of a failed culvert and road collapse. The culvert failure occurred at a double-barrel culvert located along Stearns School Road at Mill Creek, resulting in the collapse of the road. Repairing the culvert and the heavily traveled road became an immediate priority.

HLR offered both topographic and land surveying services for the emergency replacement and eventual bridge repair. The topographic survey included expedited mapping of the existing culvert area, enabling the design of the emergency culvert to be completed as soon as possible. As the location was adjacent to the Forest Preserve District, HLR's certified arborists identified, measured, and coordinated species information for all trees in the area.

Additionally, HLR provided land surveying services to determine the existing right-of-way within the project limits, based on Plat of Highways and LCDOT monumentation. Easement documents (legals and exhibits) were prepared for both the emergency and final conditions. Appraisals were provided, facilitating LCDOT staff in negotiating with adjoining property owners using fair market value as a starting point.

To address environmental concerns, HLR prepared a wetland delineation report, which included data sheets, figures, and a photo log. Coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources through EcoCAT, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and the Section 7 Consultation memorandum was completed as required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Early on, our environmental staff worked with Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, obtaining all necessary permits within weeks of the collapse.

Awards: 

• 2022 ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Merit Award
• 2022 ACEC-Illinois Engineering Excellence Judge's Choice Award
• 2022 APWA Chicago Metro Chapter Project of the Year Award
• 2022 APWA Lake Branch Project of the Year Award