Illinois Department of Transportation

US 41 at Deerpath Road:
Pump Station #38

Designed to Eliminate Historical Flooding

The area around US 41 at Deerpath Road in western Lake Forest required a complex redesign to eliminate historical flooding. Civiltech provided Phase III Construction Engineering services to IDOT on this multi-faceted project.

A New Pump Station and Detention Ponds

Due to a low area under the US 41 overpass, a pump station is required to move water up the drainage system towards the nearby outlet creek. The existing pump station located under the overpass bridge was showing signs of wear and therefore decommissioned with a new pump building being constructed a few hundred feet to the east. The new pump station was constructed to bring the flow back up into two new detention ponds to slow the drainage outlet before reaching the creek.

Complex Installation of Large Piping

A new system of pipes, some as large as 72 inches in diameter, were installed to handle all of the stormwater flow. The design was to bypass the low area under US 41, so the new pump station wouldn’t be overtaxed. The pipes also connected the two new detention ponds which were built on adjacent golf course property. To get the required 54-inch bypass pipe under US 41, Com Ed High Tension Lines, and the Union Pacific RR, a full scale boring and jacking operation was utilized.
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Pump Station Operation and Aesthetics

The City of Lake Forest took ownership and operation of the pump station and drainage system once the project was completed. Thus close coordination between IDOT and Lake Forest was critical. The new pump station building is located at the end of a Lake Forest city block and was designed with a residential vernacular to blend into the surroundings.

A High-Performing Pump Station

The new drainage design included bypassing most of the flow away from the US 41 overpass. Therefore, the pump station does not need to be used as heavily as its predecessor. The pump house has a three level subbasement extending over 30 feet below ground. The large pumps are muffled for low disturbance, and there is a generator system in case of power failure during a storm when pumping in most needed.

This Project Incorporates the Following:

  • Mitigation of historic flooding
  • New pump station construction
  • Pumping to golf course detention ponds
  • Under highway piping installation

Scope of Services

  • Resident Engineering
  • Construction Inspection
  • Construction Management
  • Construction Layout
  • Building Construction Inspection
  • Construction Documentation
  • Coordination and Public Involvement
  • Interagency Coordination
  • QC/QA Material Testing

Funding

  • Federal, State, Local

Learn more about this project and its related services.

Contact Jim Ewers