Transportation officials and other folks are eager to get the ball rolling on a huge road task that could incorporate a railroad underpass or overpass in southwestern Lake County.
The Lake County Board will vote Tuesday on a $6.17 million deal with TranSystems Corp. of Schaumburg to research possible advancements alongside Previous McHenry and Quentin streets in the Hawthorn Woods/Lake Zurich/Kildeer area.
In what is recognized as Phase 1 engineering, Outdated McHenry Road from Abbey Glenn Travel to Bonnie Lane, and Quentin Street from Old McHenry Highway to Route 22 will be evaluated for widening and reconstruction, nonmotorized connections to regional trails and destinations, and advancements at three intently spaced intersections.
The centerpiece would be an underpass or overpass at the Canadian National tracks on Previous McHenry in between Midlothian and Quentin roads.
A preliminary price estimate that involves all aspects of the venture is $105 million. Transportation officials say they’ll have a greater knowing of the scope and value of the job right after the Period 1 research is complete.
Given the area-extensive benefits and prospective for federal funding, commencing the process sooner alternatively than later on has been strongly supported by county board committees that make tips to the total panel.
“I believe most people is seeking ahead to this a person,” mentioned Monthly bill Durkin, a county board member from Waukegan and chair of the general public works, setting up and transportation committee.

























The project has been on the to-do listing owing to protection and other problems, in accordance to Darrell Kuntz, undertaking manager for the Lake County Division of Transporation.
There is a high targeted traffic quantity on 4 regional highways that converge in the analyze place, and 341 crashes — 96 involving injuries — were reported there in a 5-12 months period, he claimed.
Eighteen to 22 freight trains a day, some two miles long, also result in regular delays.
“We want to glance at this spot and appear up with some truly superior alternatives that are a ideal suit,” Kuntz said.
Improved intersections at Fairfield, Midlothian and Quentin streets, as perfectly as the railroad underpass/overpass, would improve the Aged McHenry Street corridor. Widening Quentin Road up to 5 lanes would increase visitors move and basic safety to the south.
The procedure will require a “context delicate structure” to tailor the approach to the location and harmony group wants, basic safety and the environment to come across the greatest resolution, Kuntz stated.
That will include input from an alphabet soup of neighborhood, state and federal organizations.
“The regulation facet for us to use public cash on large improvements like this is a hefty raise, but we are all in on it and experience it truly is the suitable sort of match for this venture,” Kuntz explained.
Arranging would get two or a few yrs in advance of thorough style and design of a favored different and land acquisition. Even in the greatest scenario, development would not commence till 2025 or 2026, Kuntz explained.
“We have a good deal of perform ahead of us but are excited to get begun,” he mentioned.
It also will be pricey. Director of Transporation Shane Schneider claimed the county is covering the Section 1 engineering value, has secured $12 million in rail basic safety cash from the Illinois Commerce Commission and has yet another $4 million in condition funding.
“That leaves close to $80 million in cash we are nonetheless attempting to recognize to provide this all the way as a result of construction,” Schneider explained.
The Old McHenry/Quentin strategy is a person of 3 transportation projects Lake County will be publishing for thing to consider beneath the pending federal infrastructure offer.
Federal funding varies, but it most typically addresses 80% of a project’s value, with a 20% neighborhood match, according to Schneider.
Increasing safety and site visitors move at railroad crossing is a precedence for LCDOT and other businesses. For instance, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Arranging is main an effort to discover precedence grade crossings.
Quite a few Lake County crossings are on the record dependent on visitors quantity, selection of trains and crash background: Route 14 in Barrington, six areas in Grayslake and Spherical Lake Seaside, Previous McHenry Street in Hawthorn Woods, Route 60/83 in Mundelein, and Route 137 in North Chicago.
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