The Geneva City Council said OK this week to a project that will improve a whopping 1.4-mile stretch of Western Avenue, possibly as soon as this spring, thanks to a half-million-dollar federal grant.

The City Council approved Resolution No. 2013-19, which authorizes the city to participate jointly with the feds to improve the collector street.

The Illinois Department o Transportation will arrange for the bidding, award, execution and payments related to the contract, Public Works Director Dan Dinges said in a report to the council.

The total estimated price for the project is $667,667 of which $500,000 is federal funds and $167,667 is local funds programmed in the city’s Capital Improvement Program.

Mayor Kevin Burns said after the meeting that improvements also would include striping that would allow clear lanes for bicycle traffic.

“Any improvements we can make for the motoring public and the bicycling and pedestrian is always well appreciated,” he said.

The Western Avenue project is scheduled for a letting date of April 26. The city will be responsible for providing inspection services, which will be done in-house, Dinges' report said.