Work on Schererville sinkhole to begin soon
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent January 20, 2013 6:34PM
Updated: February 22, 2013 6:09AM
Work could begin in as soon as a couple weeks on repairs to the failing culvert that is causing a sinkhole in downtown Schererville.
The Lake County Drainage Board last week approved a contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering LLC for $7,875 for emergency engineering for repairs to the Spring Street Ditch, which is visibly failing in the 100 block of Joliet Street where a sinkhole has appeared in the parking lot of Computer Bay and the street is beginning to dip.
The emergency designation enables surveyor’s office to fast-track the construction process by soliciting three contractors to provide pricing for the work in lieu of the regular bidding process, Surveyor George Van Til said.
“This is a very different and delicate situation,” Van Til said. Typically repairs fall under ditch design and are engineered in-house. In this situation the culvert runs under the road and a business, requiring the additional engineering.
Van Til said as soon as he is notified by Burke the specifications are complete he will distribute them to three contractors for pricing.
“Hopefully in a matter of weeks we will be underground on this just in time for the spring rains,” Van Til said.
The project is expected to cost about $250,000 with the town of Schererville picking up the tab for 30 percent. The County Council approved a temporary transfer of funds enabling Van Til to move the project forward.
