Pervious concrete -- a green stormwater management strategy -- is being used in the Village of Westmont's South Cumnor Road reconstruction project, marking the first time it's been used in Illinois and surrounding areas for a municipal roadway.
The project is on the southwest side of the community between 59th and 61st streets.
With pervious concrete, rainwater is filtered through a layer of stone below the road rather than being immediately directed to a storm sewer. Once filtered, it is stored underground for three to five days before being released, maximizing the amount of water infiltrated into the ground rather than being diverted to storm sewers, and ultimately water treatment plants.
Pervious concrete has been used for numerous alleys, driveways, parking lanes along roadways and parking lot projects, but never for an actual roadway in the region.
“This project demonstrates our community’s commitment to addressing stormwater management concerns while maintaining an environmental-friendly approach,” Westmont Mayor Ron Gunter said. “It’s exciting that Westmont is the first municipality in the state of Illinois to construct a pervious concrete street.”
Pervious concrete has additional environmental benefits as well.
“Other towns will be watching this project in Westmont with a lot of interest,” Brian Lutey, vice president of sustainability and compliance with Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete, Inc., added. “This is the first project of this type in a five-state area.”
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