We are proud to announce that V3 has won a 2025 APWA (Fox Valley Branch) Public Works Project of the Year for our work on Batavia’s Prairie and Wilson Street intersection. This annual award promotes excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public works projects, and we are thrilled to be recognized in the “Transportation – Less than $5 Million” category. Learn more about our win and how this complex project improved the safety and functionality of this busy interchange.
Update: This project also won the 2025 APWA Chicago Metro Chapter Project of the Year Transportation – Less than $5 Million.
Project Goals
The intersection improvement project at Prairie Street and Wilson Street in downtown Batavia was aimed at enhancing safety and reducing congestion. The project, which began in February 2024 and was completed in November 2024, involved significant upgrades including traffic signalization, new turn lanes, pavement widening, and pedestrian handicap ramps and sidewalks. This required coordination with BNSF construction crews due to the proximity of two railroad crossings 100’ south and east of the intersection which created unique coordination and schedule challenges.
Project Approach and Complexity
The project site area involved two different projects in the same spot. Our team and BNSF, who did not typically work together, required extensive communication; It was crucial to keep BNSF informed about how and when they could proceed, requiring a creative and flexible schedule to ensure the two crews did not overlap. Working on BNSF property required us to be certified RailSafe and BNSF Safety Certified, which is not common for many projects. This certification underscored our commitment to safety and ensured that all team members were prepared to work in this specialized environment.
To minimize the impact on residents and the traveling public during construction, the project was designed in three stages, allowing one side of the street to be closed at a time. The project area included businesses and homes on the corners, so maintaining open lanes and entrances was crucial for ensuring access. Coordination with business owners was a daily part of our meetings, involving regular conversations to address their needs.
During the project, we discovered a utility in the northeast corner of the intersection that directly impacted one of our mast arm signal foundations. Collaborating with V3’s Resident Engineer, Transystems, and the City of Batavia, the team had to quickly redesign the corner sidewalk, curb, and mast arm foundation in that area to proceed without impacting the underground utility. This required careful design and construction of the corner to find a suitable mast arm foundation location while still meeting sidewalk ADA/PROWAG criteria. This on-the-fly adjustment was managed efficiently in the field and did not affect the project timeline. Removing the utility would have cost approximately $250,000 and significantly delayed the project, so our prompt redesign was both cost-effective and time-saving.
Client and Community Impact
Despite the complexity and the involvement of multiple entities, the project was completed on time without any major issues. A significant upgrade was the replacement of an outdated water main, originally constructed in the 1920s, with some sections over 120 years old and containing lead services for 15 residential houses. The installation of a new water main and updated water services represents a major improvement in infrastructure and public health.
The three-stage design ensured minimal disruption and was intentionally planned to reduce public impact, considering the access needs of businesses on-site. The final result is safe, modern, and make navigating the area much more efficient.
Work with V3’s engineering experts
Developing safe and efficient transportation systems takes experienced leadership and a creative approach. Our award-winning team provided sensible solutions to transportation challenges; connect with us to learn more.