Rt. 31 in Elgin will close from U.S. 20 to Adams St.

A short stretch of Route 31 in Elgin will be closed for four days, starting Wednesday, because of an unforeseen problem with the combined sewer separation project near U.S. 20.

Work will last from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, closing the northbound lanes of Route 31 from U.S. 20 to Adams Street. A detour will reroute traffic west on U.S. 20, north on McLean Boulevard, east on Larkin and Highland avenues and then back onto northbound Route 31, according to a City of Elgin news release.

Public Services Director David Lawry said the problem was caused by a lower moisture content in the soil than expected based on previous tests. One option that would have spared closing Route 31 was to use a grouting technique to stabilize the sand.

That option proved too expensive and ultimately uncertain.

“That cost was going to be in excess of $400,000 to do that work with no guarantee,” Lawry said.