Frequently Asked Questions

Each summer, the City of Wheaton conducts a construction project known as the Road, Sewer and Water Rehabilitation Program. The intent of the program is to make improvements to the city's infrastructure, including roadways, storm and sanitary sewers and water mains. The City Council allocates funds for these improvements that are above and beyond the normal maintenance the city performs. Streets are prioritized according to age and need for repairs. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The Public Works Department annually conducts a field survey to determine the condition of the streets within the City of Wheaton. Data collected from this survey are entered and analyzed by a computer program called Micro PAVER. Micro PAVER then assigns each street a numerical index based on the type, severity and quantity of defects of the individual street. The Engineering Department uses the rankings assigned by Micro PAVER to develop the annual road program.

After the streets have been selected, the Sewer Division examines the sanitary and storm sewers to determine whether any repairs or improvements are necessary. Sanitary sewers in excess of 35 years of age are scheduled for a sewer lining rehabilitation. The Water Division then evaluates the water mains under the selected streets based upon their repair history and capacity to determine whether replacement is necessary. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The Engineering Department prepares plans and bid specifications for the road program, and the City Council awards a contract to a construction firm to perform the work. Residents with questions about the Road Program should call the Engineering Department at 630-260-2065.

Work begins in mid-April. The Engineering Department will oversee the project and keep residents informed of construction dates. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Driveway access will be limited at times. The contractor will be sensitive to the needs of the residents adjacent to the construction areas by providing temporary access, if possible. When the curb and gutter are poured and concrete driveways are repaired, there will a period of time when access will not be permitted. This is to allow time for the concrete to cure properly.

Residents will be permitted to park on adjacent streets for the duration of the time access to driveways is unavailable. Construction updates will have more information. During working hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, please do not park in areas under construction. This will ensure that the construction crews have room to maneuver their equipment and bring materials on site. It will also safeguard against damage to personal property.

Residents who require continuous driveway access because of a physical condition or a unique circumstance should contact the Engineering Department at 630-260-2065.

Construction plans and specifications are available for public review at the Engineering Department at:
Wheaton City Hall
303 W Wesley Street
1st Floor

Wheaton, IL 60187

Engineering Department staff is available to answer questions. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The City’s general policy is to maintain the existing infrastructure as it presently exists. Features such as street curbing, sidewalks, and street lighting will not be installed where they are not currently present, without a financial commitment from the affected property owners. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Call the Street Division of the Public Works Department at 630-260-2116 or notify the Street Division by email. While the Engineering Department oversees road improvement programs, routine maintenance such as patching and sealing falls under the Public Works Department’s authority.

Yes, we do. The Engineering Department drafts every three years a new Five-Year Road Improvement Program. This report lists the streets we recommend for resurfacing, rehabilitation, or complete reconstruction for each of the following five City fiscal years. The street listing is based upon a rating system that uses inspection data collected by the Street Division entered into a computer software program called PAVER. PAVER provides a rating for each street section on a scale of 0 to 100 and we use that information to create the Road Program. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Many areas of the community lack some of the public improvements that newer areas have. This is due primarily to the age of development and the development policies that were in effect at that time. The City does not have the funds that are necessary to construct all streets with curbing, storm sewers, and street lighting. The City’s policy is to maintain the existing infrastructure with the taxes that are available. If there are enough property owners on a street who desire these improvements, the City can create a special taxing district to collect the funds to construct the added infrastructure improvements. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The placement of stop signs at intersections must be justified by an engineering study. There are three items that are reviewed in the study: the number of vehicles (traffic volume) traveling through the intersection, the number of reported traffic accidents at the intersection for the previous 12-month period, and sight distance measurements for approaching vehicles. These “warrants” are based on state law and transportation officials’ guidelines. A stop sign is only placed to assist a motorist in determining which vehicle has the right of way to travel through an intersection to avoid an accident with another vehicle. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

No, stop signs are not intended to be used to deter speeding vehicles. Engineering studies have shown that stop signs have no effect on reducing speeds, and in fact, stop signs often increase speeds due to the notion of making up for lost time. Unwarranted stop sign placement is often deliberately ignored and motorists perform “rolling” stops. This increases the hazard to pedestrians who rely on traffic stopping at stop signs to safely cross the street. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The Wheaton Police Department takes the most active role in deterring speeding on our residential streets. The use of radar enforcement and education aids such as live speed signs are examples of these efforts. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Many streets in Wheaton carry different volumes of traffic due to how they fit into our transportation network. Some residential streets are classified as collectors, which connect local streets with arterial highways. There are also streets that seem to motorists to be more convenient to travel instead of busier streets. These are commonly referred to as “cut-through” streets. Although the City has looked into physical barriers and “speed bumps,” we have not implemented any of these measures due primarily to limiting emergency service response time. In many cases, the cut-through traffic will just move to a neighboring street and the problem will still exist. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

The traffic signals for Main Street and West Street as they intersect the railroad tracks were modified several years ago due to a re-evaluation of all traffic signals state-wide that interconnect with railroad crossing gate signals resulting from the school bus / train accident in Fox River Grove. The traffic signals in downtown Wheaton now have an additional phase to prevent traffic from stopping on the tracks and being trapped by the railroad gates. This additional phase stops Front Street and Main Street (Front Street and West Street) and allows Liberty Drive traffic to go over the tracks without any other traffic interference. This is a safety feature imposed by the state and can not be altered by the City. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Although it is very common, it is not what is supposed to happen during rain storms. The floor drain in your basement floor is connected to the sanitary sewer system. Unlike the City of Chicago, which has a combined sanitary and storm sewer system, Wheaton has separate systems. However, due to deterioration of the storm and sanitary sewer pipes and intentional and unintentional connections, storm water does infiltrate the sanitary sewer system. This infiltration can cause the sanitary sewer system to overflow to the lowest points in the system - basements. The City is addressing this problem by conducting home inspections to find illegal connects to the sanitary sewer system. We also have a program to assist homeowners with the cost of installing an overhead plumbing system to stop sewer backups in basements. Contact us at 630-260-2065 for more information.

Residents who have issues with flooding in their homes can schedule a free drainage review with a City Engineer by calling 630-260-2870. This comprehensive evaluation examines everything having to do with drainage and your property. The engineer will discuss where the water comes from, how it gets there, and, most importantly, what can be done to alleviate your property’s problems. In addition, see the City's flooding prevention tips.