Work underway on Belleville’s iconic Public Square. Here’s what it means for your commute

Belleville News-Democrat
·2 min read

Major work to replace the nearly 75-year-old water pipes that feed the iconic Veterans Memorial Fountain in downtown Belleville has begun.

Workers mobilized to erect orange pylons and detour signs, temporary chain-link fencing extended from Main to A streets on both sides and across Illinois Street, and construction vehicles encircled a dry Veterans Memorial Fountain in downtown Belleville on Tuesday morning.

Pretty soon, the laborers, with their hard hats and orange vests, will take their jackhammers to the concrete surface of the Public Square.

Lines will be replaced on Illinois Street from A to Washington streets, and from First to High streets.

The 1,700 feet of aging water main will be replaced with 12-inch ductile iron pipe, according to Illinois American Water Company, which describes the work as “important and necessary.”

“The water lines being replaced are approximately 75 years old,” the Illinois American news release stated. “The original line was installed in 1949 with additions in 1955.”

The estimated $1 million project is being paid for entirely by the water company.

The work, which Illinois American estimates will take the better part of three months, was timed around Belleville’s downtown summer event schedule. It avoided this weekend’s Shriners Parade and food vendor “Feztival” and should be completed in time for the annual Oktoberfest, slated for Sept. 15 and 16.

In the meantime, businesses downtown remain open, and north-south traffic on Illinois Street and east-west flow on Main is being detoured around. Signage clearly marks the suggested routes, but Illinois American cautions drivers to plan alternate routes if they can.

Jeff King, engineering manager for Illinois American Water, said in the news release the “project is part of our proactive strategy to replace aging water infrastructure” in the metro-east.

“We recognize this is a temporary disruption locally but it’s essential that this water main be replaced,” King said. “We are working to minimize inconveniences and complete the project this summer.”

Orange pylons are lined up across the northeast corner of the Public Square in downtown Belleville with the St. Clair County Building in the background. Work began Tuesday to demolish portions of the road service and replace about 1,700 feet of aging water main.
Orange pylons are lined up across the northeast corner of the Public Square in downtown Belleville with the St. Clair County Building in the background. Work began Tuesday to demolish portions of the road service and replace about 1,700 feet of aging water main.