One of the main routes leading into the NIU campus may go under construction within the next few weeks.

The effort will provide less traffic and newly improved streets for neighborhood residents near Miller Avenue and Linden Place.

If the city council votes on a consideration to award the bid of the Miller Avenue and Linden Place reconstruction project to Elliot and Wood Inc., the $761,328 project would be only one step away from beginning, provided the council approves the project as a resolution at a later meeting.

The project would be underway once weather permits it, but the bulk of the work wouldn’t begin until after the May 11 graduation.

The overall scope of the project includes reconstructing Miller Avenue between Woodley Avenue and Linden Place and also fully reconstructing one block of Linden between Miller and Rolfe Road. Within these areas, improving sewer mains and homeowner services would be included through assistance with the DeKalb Sanitary District.

The council also will vote on a final resolution to enter into agreement with the Board of Trustees for NIU and the Center of Governmental Studies to conduct a 400-person survey costing $7,000 that would look at getting citizen feedback regarding the growth summit.

City Manager Jim Connors said the city already has written a draft of the survey that would include issues on how DeKalb residents feel growth should be monitored and/or regulated. Connors said students living off campus within the city of DeKalb could be part of the survey.

Finally, the council will hear a presentation from Main Street/DeKalb about the plans to use $25,000 from the city budget to fund future street and city appearance improvements. Connors said this consideration, however, would not be voted upon until the council had the opportunity to analyze all projects needing funds from the city budget. Because the city budget is strained as it is, Connors said it’s important that all projects and their financial costs be considered before approving any one project specifically.