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Construction in the Public Way
View guidelines for working in or around any public property. All streets, alleys, public sidewalks and other public ways are under the supervision of the Public Works Director and as such he is charged with enforcement of ordinance provisions. It is unlawful to work in any public way without obtaining the proper permits.
Call Before You Dig
Remember always, Call Before You Dig.
J.U.L.I.E
Phone: 811 or 800-892-0123
- Approach
- Curb
- Parkway
- Public Sidewalk
- Street / Alley
- Residential Sewer Pipe
- Residential Water
- Water & Sewer Disconnections
Approach
This is the portion of the driveway between the public sidewalk and street or alley.
Code Requirements
- Maximum 18 feet wide - must match existing driveway
- Asphalt should be minimum 2 inches thick - 4 to 6 inches compacted gravel base
- Overlay for existing asphalt approach should be minimum 2 inches thick
- Concrete should be 6 bag mix - 7 inches thick - minimum 4 inches compacted gravel base - wire mesh or fiber entrained concrete prohibited
- Depressed curb required at approach -curb and approach must be separate pour - full depth bituminous expansion required in all joints - curb cuts allowed with prior approval
- All approaches must meet grade at both public walk and curb
- Pre-pour inspection required for concrete and base inspection required for asphalt
Acceptable Temporary Repairs
Lighted barricades with gravel backfill to grade.
Curb
Code Requirements
- Existing curb will determine specifications for replacement - height, radius, and grade must match - gutters must match any existing asphalt overlay
- Curb must be saw cut at both ends and must extend past any cracks or chips, even those not caused by current excavation
- CA-7 stone bedding to match existing or 4 inches minimum - if unable to achieve solid base must use dowel bars - three-quarter by 18 inches
- Depressed curb required at approach -curb and approach must be separate pour - full depth bituminous expansion required in all joints
- Pre-pour inspection required
Acceptable Temporary Repairs
Lighted barricades with gravel backfill to grade.
Parkway
A $500 cash bond is required prior to excavating any village parkway - bond is refundable after final inspection approval. Parkway trees must be protected from damage. New residential construction requires 6 foot chain link fence protecting parkway trees.
Code Requirements
- Backfill with CA-7 bedding stone - 18 inch lifts - compacted with stone compactor (not plate type) - excavated dirt should not be used to backfill
- Topsoil 6 inches thick - matching existing parkway grade should cover stone backfill - grass seed or sod should be planted and maintained over topsoil
- Back fill inspection required - final inspection required for bond refund
Acceptable Temporary Repairs
Gravel backfill to grade - accepted only during winter months.
Public Sidewalk
A $500 cash bond is required prior to removal of any public sidewalk - bond is refundable after final inspection approval.
Code Requirements
- Most sidewalk squares are 5 by 5 feet - replacements must be complete square (partial replacement prohibited) and match existing sidewalk (both grade and width)
- Concrete should be a 6 bag mix - 5 inches thick (7 inches thick for squares in line with driveway and approach) - minimum 4 inches compacted stone base - wire mesh or fiber entrained concrete prohibited - smooth and level finish - outer edges finished using an edge trowel
- Expansion joints at 5 foot intervals - full depth bituminous expansion required
- Pre-pour inspection required - final inspection required for bond refund
Acceptable Temporary Repairs
Lighted barricades with gravel backfill to grade and covered with 2 inch high performance cold patch leveled and rolled - accepted only during winter months.
Street or Alley
A cash bond is required prior to excavating any village street $1,000 for half street and $1,500 for full street - bond is refundable after final inspection approval.
Code Requirements
- Restoration must match existing street - most village streets are compact base, concrete (minimum 6 inches), with asphalt overlay (minimum 2 inches)
- Must be saw cut around excavation (minimum of 12 inches around hole) for proper connection to existing street
- Backfill with CA-7 bedding stone in 18 inch lifts - compacted with stone compactor (not plate type)
- Asphalt must consist of high performance quality mix, patch must be leveled and rolled - applies to both temporary and permanent patches
- Pre-pour inspections required for cement and asphalt - final inspection required for bond refund
Acceptable Temporary Repairs
Lighted barricades, hole covered with metal plates only when waiting for inspection. After inspection lighted barricades with gravel backfill to grade or covered with 2 inch high performance cold patch leveled and rolled - accepted only during winter months
Residential Sewer Pipe - Outside
- Must use SDR 26 PVC sewer pipe - minimum 6 inches
- Must use SCHED 40 (2241) when water service is exposed
- Must use ASTM D-3212 or ASTM D-2855 joints - must be water tight
- A water tight WYE or TEE connection with anti-sheer couplings must be used when connecting to village main - connection should enter village main at a 45 to 60 degree angle - existing connections may be used with prior approval only
- Glue joints allowed with PVC check valve only
- “Band seal” or similar flexible anti-shear couplings must be used when making connections of different sewer materials
- Trench wall must be 12 inches from pipe and bottom must be smooth and debris free
- Pipe must be uniformly supported with compacted CA-11 or CA-13 crushed stone bedding 4 to 8 inches deep - stone must extend a minimum of 12 inches above top of pipe - 1% minimum slope
- Backfill with CA-7 bedding stone compacted in 6 to 12 inch lifts
- Topsoil 6 inches thick - matching existing grade should cover stone backfill
- Cleanouts installed on private property must have proper capping to prevent debris from entering sewer pipe - cleanout installation in parkway is prohibited
- Storm sewer connections (downspouts, yard drains, and sump pumps) are not allowed on a sanitary sewer line
- Sewer inspection (prior to final backfill but after gravel bedding is complete, top of pipe should be visible for inspector) and backfill inspection required
Residential Water Service
- Water taps (new service from village main to house) shall be made with a 360 degree stainless steel repair clamp - minimum 12 inches length (Smith-Blair) - minimum 1 inch type K copper service line with flared joints from tap to roundway and must include a new round way complete with b-box - b-box must be 95 E arch style (Village allows 1 or 1.5 inches service - must be verified prior to permit issuance)
- Cement brick must be placed under the curb valve
- B-box must be installed a minimum of 2 feet away from curb and 2 feet away from any driveway - b-boxes are not allowed in driveways or approaches
- New curb stop must be a minimum 5 feet below grade
- Disconnection of the old service at the village main must be competed after new service line is connected - cut and capped properly
- Brass fittings must be Mueller products with flared fittings
- Proper fittings need to be used when making repairs to small lead service lines
- Trench bottom must be smooth and debris free with CA-7 bedding stone - minimum 4 inches (under water service pipe)
- Backfill with CA-7 bedding stone compacted in 6 to 12 inch lifts
- Topsoil 6 inches thick - matching existing grade should cover stone backfill
- New water meter requests must be made 30 days in advance - building occupancy will not be approved without proper meter and reading equipment installed, tested, and approved
- Water service disconnection inspection, new water service inspection (prior to final backfill but after stone bedding is complete, service line should be visible for inspector) and backfill inspection required prior
Water Service Line Note
Specifications are for water service lines up to 2 inches. Water service lines 3 inches or larger may require Illinois Environmental Protection Agency permitting, along with permitting from the Village of La Grange Park. Submittals for these larger lines require review by the Village Engineer and the Water Department prior to installation.
Water & Sewer Disconnections
Tear-downs and new taps require the old water and sewer services to be abandoned.
- Each service must be excavated near the parkway
- Water services should be shut off at curb stop and cut to check for leaks
- B-box must be removed completely
- Water meter and reading equipment must be removed by water department - call the Village to schedule an appointment - failure to comply will result in contractor / owner being billed for equipment replacement cost
- Sewer services should cut and sealed - parkway area - water tight plug in pipe must be used (Non-shrink mortar or equivalent)
- Disconnection inspection required for both water and sewer
Backfill Note
Backfill installed under a sanitary or storm sewer must meet MWRD standards for backfill. Backfill inspection must be complete before any restoration work may begin.
Any defect left in any public property shall be barricaded and/or temporarily repaired to prevent injury. Temporary repairs left over winter months must be properly maintained. Any neglect to public way repairs may result in court fines. Failure to complete final restoration may result in bond forfeiture.