April 15, 2011
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. Olson has completed construction of the concrete walls of the Underpass and is now starting to apply paint. Following the painting of the walls, the concrete walkways and ramps will be poured.
Over the course of the spring, depending on weather conditions, W.B. Olson will work toward completion of the project with a deadline of June 9, 2011.
Ravinia sincerely thanks you for your patience and understanding especially during the bridge phase of the project. Updates will be available periodically on the internet (
www.ravinia.org). If there is a significant change to the project, Ravinia will mail an update letter. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
November 16, 2010
October 22, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. Olson completed the bridge this week and there are no plans to work this weekend. For the remainder of the project, W.B. Olson will excavate the underpass, install the concrete ramps and install the landscaping. Project completion is tentatively scheduled for May 2011.
During the winter months and depending on weather conditions, W.B. Olson may need to place concrete during the weekends. Ravinia will notify the residents and City prior to the work, and will identify construction impacts in the notification. The most significant impact will be 5 to 10 concrete trucks.
Ravinia sincerely thanks you for your patience and understanding especially during the bridge phase of the project. With the bridge complete, project updates will be available on the internet (
www.ravinia.org). If there is a significant change to the project, Ravinia will mail an update letter. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
October 14, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. OIson has completed installation of all piles and demobilized the hammer. Last weekend, they installed the concrete bridge under the east set of tracks, This weekend, W.B. Olson plans to start installation of the concrete bridge on the west side. The work will take place Saturday and mid-day Sunday. There will be no pile driving. The Union Pacific will place the track back in service on Sunday. As of this week, the trestle/bridge work is ahead of schedule.
Ravinia thanks you for your patience and understanding especially during the period of pile driving. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
October 5, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. OIson has completed installation of the west side piles and the piles located within the rail bed. With the cooperation of the Union Pacific, W.B. Olson was able to complete this work without a second Saturday of pile driving. W.B. Olson plans to complete all pile driving by the end of the week (Friday, October 8th), and will de-mobilize the hammer.
This weekend, W.B. Olson plans to start installation of the concrete bridge on the east side. The work will take place Saturday and mid-day Sunday. There will be no pile driving. The Union Pacific will place the track back in service on Sunday.
Ravinia thanks you for your patience and understanding especially during the period of pile driving. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
October 1, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
With cooperation from the Union Pacific, W.B. Olson was able to finish center line pile and sheeting installation this afternoon. This recent development eliminates the need for crews to work this weekend (October 2 & 3). The construction site will be inactive until Monday, October 4, when east side pile and sheeting installation will resume.
Ravinia thanks you for your patience and understanding. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
September 28, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. Olson completed installation of the west side piles on Monday, September 27. On Saturday, October 2, the Union Pacific will remove one section of the track on the east side to permit sheet pile installation. The remaining track will remain in service. The work is planned to take one day, and the Union Pacific will place the track back in service at the end of Saturday's work. This is the second weekend of scheduled work. No work is planned for Sunday unless site conditions preclude completion on Saturday. W.B. Olson has started pile and sheeting installation on the east side and should complete the work within two weeks.
Ravinia thanks you for your patience and understanding. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
September 21, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
W.B. Olson should complete installation of the west side piles by the end of the week. On Saturday, September 25, the Union Pacific will remove one section of the track to permit sheet pile installation. The remaining track will remain in service. The work is planned to take one day, from 7am to 7pm, and the Union Pacific will place the track back in service at the end of Saturday's work. This is the first weekend of scheduled work. The intention is to install the sheeting beneath the removed tracks on Saturday. No work is planned for Sunday unless site conditions preclude completion on Saturday. Starting Monday, September 27, W.B. Olson will transition to the east side work, which should be completed within two weeks.
Ravinia thanks you for your patience and understanding. Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
September 16, 2010
Dear Ravinia Neighbor,
This week, W.B. Olson began installing the sheet pile system on the west side of the tracks. There will be no work this weekend in observance of the holiday. Installing the sheet piles will resume on Monday, September 20. On Saturday, September 25, the Union Pacific will remove one section of the track to permit sheet pile installation. The remaining track will remain in service. The work is planned to take one day, and the Union Pacific will place the track back in service at the end of Saturday's work.
On September 13, the City Council approved the amendments and license permitting the installation of the underpass on Ravinia property and along the Green Bay Trail. No further City Council action is anticipated.
Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best Regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
September 3, 2010
Dear Ravinia Festival Neighbor,
On Tuesday, August 31, W.B. Olson installed two test piles to confirm the engineering for the Ravinia Underpass project. During installation of the test piles, Ravinia's testing services consultant monitored the vibrations. The monitor, placed in the southeast corner of the West Lot adjacent to the nearest residence, recorded vibration levels less than those anticipated. Vibration levels were at or below the level of perception.
On Tuesday, September 7 and 8, W.B. Olson will mobilize for construction and prepare the site for the project. Olson will not work on Thursday or Friday (September 9 and 10). On September 13, Olson will start to install piles and sheeting that does not conflict with the tracks. Based on our meeting of September 2 with the Union Pacific, weekend work will not start until September 25.
At its September 13 meeting, the City Council will consider: (1) an amendment to Ravinia's Planned Unit Development Agreement noting the pedestrian underpass improvements, (2) an amendment to Ravinia special license permitting use of the Green Bay Trail, and approval of two informational kiosk signs that will be incorporated within the underpass footprint.
Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
September 2, 2010
Dear Ravinia Festival Neighbor,
On Tuesday, August 31, W.B. Olson installed two test piles to confirm the engineering for the Ravinia Underpass project. During installation of the test piles, Ravinia's testing services consultant monitored the vibrations. The monitor, placed in the southeast corner of the West Lot adjacent to the nearest residence, recorded vibration levels less than those anticipated. Vibration levels were at or below the level of perception.
On Tuesday, September 7, W.B. Olson will mobilize for construction, remove trees on the east side of the tracks and prepare the site for the project. On September 8, W.B. Olson will install piles and sheeting that do not conflict with the rails. Olson will not work on Thursday or Friday.
Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction process to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629. In addition, you can call Ravinia's project hotline at 847-266-5499, or you can visit the website at www.ravinia.org.
Best regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
August 24, 2010
Dear Ravinia Festival Neighbor,
This letter is the first of regular mailings Ravinia intends to distribute updating the status of the Pedestrian Underpass construction.
After more than two years of planning, Ravinia is ready to install the Pedestrian Underpass (a rendering of the underpass is enclosed). On August 25, tree removal will begin on the Union Pacific easement that runs parallel to the tracks west of the current crossing. The Highland Park Forester is aware of the removal, although no permit is necessary. On August 26, Ravinia will remove and store the historic West Gate also located on the west side of the current crossing. Per direction from the Highland Park Historic Preservation Commission, this gate will be reinstalled later in the project. On August 30, the general contractor W.B. Olson will mobilize to install test piles on the Union Pacific right-of-way at the site of the current at-grade crossing. On August 31, W.B. Olson will install the test piles. Based on the results of the test piles, W.B. Olson plans to start the 7-week process of installing the trestle on September 8. Upon completion of the trestle, W.B. Olson will install the ramps (20 weeks) and the landscaping and lighting (8 weeks), weather permitting.
In preparing for the construction, Ravinia is taking the following steps to assist the residents:
1. Provide the construction schedule on the Ravinia website
2. Provide regular mailings updating the residents on the construction status
3. Install vibration monitoring during trestle construction
4. Provide a hotline (847/266-5499) containing construction updates
In addition, Ravinia is willing to conduct a photo survey of your residence if it is reasonably proximate to the site, and if you are concerned with the vibrations caused by the pile installation. Please note that the closest structures to the construction are the Ravinia box offices, the Martin Theatre, the Harza Building, and the Dining Pavilion. Based on the engineering analysis and previous construction experience, Ravinia does not expect any issues associated with the pile installation.
Jim Johnson, Ravinia's Owner's Representative, and Jim Schmitz, Ravinia's Director of Facilities, are available throughout the construction to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. Jim Johnson's mobile phone number is 847-691-9832, and Jim Schmitz's number is 630-417-2629.
Construction traffic for work on the west side of the tracks will enter the site via the Green Bay Road entrance. If the gate restricts the size of the vehicle, the traffic will use Blackstone. For work on the east side of the tracks, the traffic will use St. Johns to the Green Bay Trail.
Best regards,
Ravinia Festival Management
