Lake County Gazette

Lake County has announced that preliminary work, including utility relocation and tree clearing, is underway for the Russell Road Intersections Project. The project, which is scheduled for full improvements in 2026, will take place between Kenosha Road and Lewis Avenue. This announcement was made in a press release on March 24.

According to the press release, the project aims to enhance safety and update the corridor by adding single-lane roundabouts at the intersections of Russell Road with Kenosha Road and Lewis Avenue. The section of Russell Road between these roundabouts will be resurfaced and upgraded with 4-foot shoulders to accommodate bicyclists. Roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow and reduce severe accidents by lowering speeds and minimizing conflict points.

The project website states that the Russell Road improvement project focuses on enhancing safety and modernization at its intersections with Kenosha Road and Lewis Avenue. Plans include resurfacing and widening the road between these intersections, along with constructing single-lane roundabouts featuring 160-foot radii. The project is currently in Phase II, involving engineering design and construction document preparation.

Project letting is set for September 2025, with construction scheduled for 2026. A virtual public information meeting was held by LCDOT on October 21, 2021, to present study findings and preferred design alternatives. These confirmed the installation of roundabouts at Kenosha Road and Lewis Avenue.

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is responsible for constructing, engineering, planning, and maintaining county highways to ensure compliance with the Illinois Highway Code. The division also manages the county vehicle fleet, coordinates with township road districts, oversees federal transportation aid and local public transportation, reviews proposed roads for new subdivisions, and performs additional functions as required by state statutes and the county board. According to its website, LCDOT aims to provide a safe, efficient transportation system to improve mobility, economic development, and quality of life while maintaining core values of integrity, safety, community service, accountability, respect, innovation, and environmental responsibility.