CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of RFP 25-226, Fox River Commons Retaining Wall Improvements - Engineering Services, to Larson Engineering, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $129,590 and for a 12-month term
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Jennifer Louden, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
La Fox Avenue is an approximately quarter-mile stretch of road that serves as the primary access to the Naper West and Fox River Commons shopping centers from Route 59. Beyond the frontage of the shopping centers, La Fox Ave. is a very low-volume road that primarily serves delivery vehicles to Fox River Commons.
There is a steep elevation change between the north and south properties with a retaining wall north of La Fox Ave. The retaining wall was built in 1991 and is 500 feet in length with varying heights. The wall exhibits full-height and full-width cracking, widespread spalling, and areas where sections have sheared and rotated between four and 12 inches. This movement has caused rotation of the guardrail and curb above, as well as pavement failure in the westbound (north) lane of La Fox Ave. Most of the drains in the wall are non-functional.
Bracing has been put in place on an approximately 75-foot stretch of the wall to prevent further rotation. In 2023, a feasibility study was conducted to identify options for correcting the issues. There is a significant dip in the eastbound (south) lane around a segment of storm sewer. The dip has necessitated a temporary closure of the easternmost 400 ft of La Fox Ave. in both directions directly north of the stormwater basin serving Fox River Commons. The westbound lane of La Fox Ave. has been closed through the intersection of La Fox Ave. and the shopping center frontage drive.
In September 2025, the TED Business Group issued RFP 25-226 to solicit proposals from qualified consulting engineering firms. The selected firm was to prep...
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