Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. (GHA) was retained by the Village of Buffalo Grove to design and provide construction engineering services for this 1.05-mile full roadway reconstruction and storm sewer improvements within a residential neighborhood. Green Knolls Drive and Gail Drive are in a flood-prone area and to mitigate further impacts, the Village and GHA were proactive in allowing residents the choice to have the Contractor install private connection points for future sump pump connections to the Village’s storm sewer system.

With driveway access closures to 125 residents, two adjacent unrelated construction projects, and access closures to a public park within the project limits, an open line of communication from the entire project team was imperative to ensure closures and access limitations were appropriately scheduled and staged to minimize traffic impacts and closure durations. This fast-paced project required that extra care was taken to those residents with special access needs, adjusting the proposed work schedule when feasible, and continually keeping the public informed through weekly newsletters and the delivery of resident notification letters. These efforts contributed to the project being completed five weeks ahead of the contract’s completion date and on budget.

GHA provided contract administration and full-time construction engineering services. The Resident Engineer was responsible for clarifying questions from site workers and residents, recommending solutions to problems encountered during construction, preparing summary of quantities, processing pay estimates and completing required documentation in accordance with IDOT procedures.

The Contractor won the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter Contractor of the Year award.