DANVILLE — Work on the Fairchild Subway continues toward a long-awaited May 2014 opening.

David Schnelle, director of Urban Services for the city, says the project is about a month behind schedule due to a delay while awaiting utility relocations. He said the delay is partly due to Ameren crews going out east to help with storm relief.

O’Neil Brothers, the contractor for the project, has been adjusting its work items as much as possible to accommodate the utility companies, Schnelle said.

“They continue to work,” he said. “Plans are to work year round.”

Schnelle said work will only shut down if there is “bitter cold” weather.

Work this week included grading of a Collett Street alley.

Paving of the west end of Fairchild Street from Section to Hinkley streets began last week as part of the overpass project for stabilization purposes and making access to businesses in the area easier for patrons.

A new 60-inch storm sewer has been installed from Section to Baldwin streets and crews have paved the stretch ahead of the winter months.

O’Neil Brothers has continued installing the Temporary Soil Retention System on the east end of the western tunnel.

O’Neil Brothers also has continued demolishing the retaining walls west of the tunnels. Shaping and grading of aggregate base course was performed at the west end of the project in addition to the placement of the Hot-Mix Asphalt binder course from Section Street to just past Hinkley Street.

Central Illinois Tile continued last week constructing 60-inch storm sewer to the east of Rogers Street along Fairchild.

MSA professionals, a consultant to O’Neil Brothers, has been on-site removing non-special waste materials encountered during construction to prevent negative environmental effects.

Earlier this month, O’Neil Brothers pumped grout into the existing 24-inch storm sewer along the south side of Fairchild Street to be abandoned as part of this project. The existing 24-inch storm sewer previously drained the existing tunnels.

O’Neil Brothers also shaped/graded the base for the proposed shared-use path along the south side of Fairchild Street from Section Street to the east.

The west retaining wall and tunnel of the subway was being demolished and the temporary soil retention system at the western most opening of the tunnel was being installed. The temporary soil retention system is designed to allow for safe demolition of the existing structure and provide a cap at the ends of the tunnels to appropriately fill the tunnels.

Project sub-contractors have included Schomburg & Schomburg Construction, Central Illinois Tile, Illini Drilled Foundations, Inc. and Vibra-Tech, Inc.

Danville City Council members will consider purchasing some additional property related to the project next week and meeting possible future development needs of the Th Snyder property and assist with residential sanitary sewer issues.

A sanitary sewer will be installed on the south side of Fairchild at Baldwin Street.

The Fairchild Overpass project replaces the deteriorated Fairchild Subway with an overpass between Rogers Street and Bowman Avenue.

The new 1,200-foot long structure includes two bridges and retaining walls.

The project is funded with $3 million from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, $12 million from the Illinois Commerce Commission and $7 million from the Illinois Jobs Now program.

Weekly updates and a live video feed of the project can be found on the website http://www.danvillepublicworks.org/fairchild-overpass.html.