Stormwater Management Commission and the Village of Fox Lake held a ceremonial groundbreaking event to mark the inauguration of the Knollwood Flood Mitigation and Road Improvements project.
Since 2007, the Knollwood subdivision in Fox Lake has experienced a drop in elevation and has become increasingly susceptible to flooding.
During times of heavy rain, this neighborhood is detrimentally impacted. Many of the roads are made impassable, making portions of the neighborhood inaccessible to school buses, household waste collection, residential traffic and emergency services. These flood mitigation actions will not only increase the quality of life, but also safety.
"Today we begin a significant project within the Knollwood Subdivision to protect resident's homes from flooding and keep the roads open during major storm events. I am grateful for the partnership between SMC, the state, and the people of the Village so that we can make these critical infrastructure investments that will have a lasting positive impact for years to come,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart.
“Our goal is to have an immediate positive impact on the lives of the neighborhood residents who face continued challenges because of our region's persistent flooding issues,” shared Kurt Woolford, Executive Director of the Stormwater Management Commission. “Grant funds will be utilized for the design, easement acquisition, and construction of drainage and road improvements, including the elevation of roadways, construction of culverts, and construction of drainage channels within Knollwood subdivision.”
On May 9, Lake County welcomed Illinois Governor Pritzker to Waukegan to announce and give thanks for $30 million in initial funding granted to complete regional stormwater infrastructure projects, including this project in Fox Lake. The initial funding received will be used to complete 14 projects, providing stormwater management benefits to more than 2,300 properties and 25 roadways across our county.
Lake County will be granted a total $122 million in funding by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to support local initiatives in managing regional stormwater and related infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects to reduce flooding for hard hit communities across Lake County. Future project locations include: Antioch, Grayslake, Highland Park, Libertyville, Park City, Shields Township, Warren Township, and Waukegan.
Original source can be found here.
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