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Village approves around-the-clock construction of Wal-Mart  Share
Impatient Lincoln-Way area Wal-Mart shoppers will be happy to know that G.A. Johnson & Son Builders are now working 24 hours a day to get the much-anticipated Supercenter in New Lenox completed by this time next year. The New Lenox Village Board has approved around-the-clock construction of the 140,000-square-foot store at Williams Street and U.S. Route 30. New Lenox officials and representatives of Wal-Mart and McVickers Development broke ground for the new store, as well as a Menard's, on the 72-acre site last year. Village Administrator Russ Loebe said recently that the firm is looking to make enough progress on groundwork to allow construction to continue through the winter months, and noted that extensive excavation already has been done. ''They are making significant progress,'' he said.
''They are on schedule. Their schedule calls for the site preparation work to be far enough along by November 1 that the actual building construction of the Wal-Mart store could start at that time. ''Additionally, ComEd will begin power pole relocations along Route 30 in mid-October. ''The developer hopes to get much of the underground work associated with the U.S. Route 30 road improvements completed before the construction season ends.'' Loebe said the village will permit the developer to work 24 hours a day on the project. ''They did so upon the developer's request in that they are obligated to open the store in October 2010, and because the site is isolated and not adjacent to residential properties.'' Village officials stipulated, however, that lighting from the construction area must be directed to the north, away from residences south of U.S. 30, and loud construction work must be done during daylight hours. Loebe added that, while zoning would allow for a 24-hour Wal-Mart at that location, ''the developer has not indicated that the New Lenox store would be open 24 hours.'' In addition to Wal-Mart and Menard's, the New Lenox TownCenter development is expected to include several smaller businesses, such as a restaurant and other shops. The excavation at the site also clears the way for long-awaited improvements to Route 30, which will be widened to six lanes at Williams Street. Traffic lights and sidewalks also are part of the project, which is expected to begin this fall. Karen Haave is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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