With shoreline restoration done, Kenilworth’s beach project enters more complicated — and expensive — second phase

The Village of Kenilworth is putting the pieces in place for the next phase of its beach overhaul.

Phase 1 of Kenilworth’s Beach Improvement Project completed in May, and the Kenilworth Village Board has begun considering subcontracting bids for Phase 2, set to begin this fall.

Village Manager Kathy Thake provided updates on the project at the board’s meeting on Monday, July 21, which followed the opening of Phase 2’s bidding process on July 16.

With the first phase focused on beach protections and restoration, work to reinforce the shoreline began in late October 2024, as reported by The Record, and continued until May 2025. 

Phase 2 will focus on functionality and accessibility, and specific improvements include a new bathroom facility, an ADA-compliant pedestrian ramp, new concrete stairs, seating options and window replacement, among others detailed on the Village’s website.

According to 2023 figures, the Beach Improvement Project was projected to cost $8.4 million. Following review from contractor Bulley and Andrews, the updated cost proved much higher. To complete the entire project within a year would cost approximately $13.9 million, according to new estimates that prompted the Village Board to choose a phased approach.

Although the Village allocated $7 million toward Phase 2 of the funding, another $4-$6 million will be needed to complete later stages on a multi-year timeline.

At Monday’s meeting, Thake said the bid package was higher than expected, and, because of this, there is a possibility that some packages may be rebid.

Thake said the project was “bid out by trade package,” enabling Bulley and Andrews, the construction manager, to solicit bids from subcontractors for 17 different trade, including concrete, steel and masonry.

“We are currently reviewing each trade and its alignment to the scope as presented in the drawings, as well as evaluating alternates that we included in the bidding,” Thake said.

While Thake said the project team is hopeful it can award the project in the coming week, the team is also evaluating another route. More critical trades could be awarded now, while others rebid over the coming weeks, she said.

Trustee John Gottschall questioned whether concern about the higher-than-expected price of the bids is warranted. Thake said that while concrete and steel were higher than expected, others could come in lower than estimated, and her team will analyze as more bids come in.

Responding to Trustee Christopher Ottsen, Thake said she hopes to wrap up bid evaluation and bring recommendations to the board by Wednesday, July 30.

If the bid evaluation period stays on track, Thake said construction could start right after Labor Day, following the end of Kenilworth’s beach season on Sept. 1.

“We’re hopeful we can meet that deadline,” Thake said. “And again, it’s a self-imposed deadline, but there’s a lot of prep work that needs to go in once we do award the contract that would take place in August.”

In addition to construction, another part of Phase 2 of the Beach Improvement Project is the relocation of the ComEd electrical utilities.

The Village is collecting bids to address the relocation, and proposals are due Thursday, July 24, in hopes of awarding the project at a special Village Board meeting on July 30. 

“The (relocation) work, like I mentioned, is a critical path,” Thake said. “So it does need to be the first thing that’s done.”

Thake said the new location of the electrical equipment will be about halfway up Devonshire Lane. Assuming the Village gets favorable bids, work on the electrical relocation could begin before the end of August.

With the bids out for the next steps, Phase 2 is still on schedule for completion before the 2026 beach season, which begins Memorial Day weekend.

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