Aside from some inconvenience due to having to navigate around construction areas, I am always excited to see water and sewer projects underway. And it appears Chicago’s department of water management is hard at work this fall trying to complete a number of projects before the end of the year.
In my neighborhood alone, an installation of approximately 2,330 ft of new sewer, which will allow for better drainage and reduce the chance of flooding caused by heavy rains, is currently underway. Construction of a century-old water main in dire need of replacement is also in progress.
The department of water management has done an excellent job communicating with the public about the ongoing work to limit inconveniences as residents wait for the dust and machine noise to slowly come to an end.
As I follow the detour signs around these projects on my daily commute to work, the sense of frustration typically shifts into excitement about all the hidden improvements below-ground.