Rockford residents could chip in to bury 11th Street utility lines

ComEd customers in Rockford could be asked to chip in to bury electrical lines along 11th Street next year as the city begins a three-year reconstruction of the corridor.

Burying the lines is expected to cost ComEd about $4.6 million. The utility is allowed under the Illinois Public Utilities Act to recoup that cost from rate payers, Interim Public Works Director Timothy Hinkens said.

The project should take six to nine months to complete.

Under an agreement with Rockford, if it takes nine months, ComEd could charge a fraction of a cent per kilowatt hour that would cost the average residential customer in Rockford an additional $2.58 a month for nine months. If it takes six months, ComEd would charge the average residential customer an additional $3.84 a month for six months.

City Council could consider the proposal at its May 6 meeting.

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With some of the worst road conditions in the city, 11th Street is scheduled in the 2024 five-year Capital Improvement Program for the start of a $20 million reconstruction in three phases.

Starting in 2025, the city plans a $10 million first phase from Harrison to 18th avenues. A $9 million second phase will run from 18th Avenue to Charles Street in 2026 and a final phase from U.S. Bypass 20 to Harrison would proceed in 2027.

In addition to reconstructing the roadway, plans are to add pedestrian and bicycle amenities while reducing the number of lanes to three from four as a safety measure in addition to burying utility lines.

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at  (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey .

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford residents could chip in to bury 11th Street utility lines