Brush Hill Road Reconstruction and Flood Mitigation, Elmhurst, Illinois

CLIENT: City of Elmhurst, IL

Flooding and aging infrastructure along Brush Hill Road called for a solution that improved both roadway performance and long-term resiliency. Completed in late 2023, the Brush Hill Road Reconstruction and Flood Mitigation project delivered critical improvements while minimizing impacts to residents, businesses, healthcare facilities, and schools throughout the surrounding community.

The project included the rehabilitation of 1,811 feet of Brush Hill Road, the reconstruction of 600 feet of Brush Hill Road, and the reconstruction of 250 feet of Prospect Avenue. A key component of the project involved raising the intersection of Brush Hill Road and Prospect Avenue by two feet above the 100-year floodplain, improving flood resilience and reducing the risk of future roadway closures.

In addition to the roadway reconstruction, improvements included composite pavement removal, earth excavation, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavement construction, HMA milling and resurfacing, aggregate subgrade installation, Portland cement concrete curb and gutter replacement, storm sewer replacement, roadway lighting enhancements, non-special waste evaluations, and landscaping. Together, these improvements modernized the corridor while extending the service life of critical transportation infrastructure.

Because the project corridor serves several important community destinations, construction required extensive coordination with nearby stakeholders. Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, local churches, condominium communities, and a private school all relied on continued access throughout construction. The restricted roadway alignment further increased the complexity of staging and sequencing work while minimizing disruptions to daily traffic.

One of the project’s greatest challenges was meeting the City’s commitment to substantially complete construction before the start of the private school’s academic year. Achieving this milestone required close collaboration between the City of Elmhurst, Clark Dietz, the contractor, and surrounding stakeholders. The project team conducted daily coordination meetings, identified materials with longer procurement timelines early, continuously monitored progress, and resequenced construction activities when necessary to maintain the schedule without compromising quality.

The project was subsidized through Illinois Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds, helping the City invest in critical infrastructure improvements while responsibly managing public resources.

Completed on schedule in late 2023, the improvements provide a safer, smoother, and more resilient transportation corridor for the Elmhurst community. Beyond enhancing roadway conditions, the project demonstrates how thoughtful planning, proactive communication, and close coordination can successfully deliver complex infrastructure improvements while maintaining access for the people and institutions that rely on them every day.