Lake County Gazette

Lake County has announced that the Division of Transportation's 2025 construction program will allocate $117 million to infrastructure projects focused on enhancing safety, mobility, and sustainability throughout the county. This announcement was made in a press release on April 11, 2025.

According to Lake County, a typical transportation project begins with identifying the work, estimating costs, and adding it to a five-year program. In the second year, surveys, environmental studies, and public meetings help finalize the plan. The third and fourth years concentrate on design, land acquisition, and coordination. Construction follows these phases, with federally funded projects potentially taking longer.

Several transportation projects are currently in the planning and design stages across Lake County. Planning efforts include roadway and intersection improvements such as the Fairfield Road study and upgrades on Lewis Avenue between IL137 and IL173. Enhancements at key locations like York House Road and Riverwoods Road are also part of these efforts. Design work is underway for various initiatives including major corridor improvements like Buffalo Grove Road and Deerfield Road; bike and pedestrian paths such as the Butterfield Road Bike Path Extension and Skokie Valley Trail; and safety upgrades at intersections including Hunt Club Road at Stearns School Road.

Numerous projects have advanced into the construction phase. Current efforts involve road reconstructions, resurfacing, and infrastructure repairs. Major reconstructions are ongoing on Arlington Heights Road and Butterfield Road. Intersection enhancements include IL59 at Grand/Washington, while bridge and path improvements feature upgrades to the Robert McClory Path. Additional work encompasses culvert linings, new traffic signals, and roundabout construction aimed at improving traffic flow, safety, and accessibility throughout the county.

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is tasked with constructing, engineering, planning, and maintaining county highways in compliance with the Illinois Highway Code. The division manages the county vehicle fleet, coordinates with township road districts, oversees federal transportation aid along with local public transportation initiatives. It reviews proposed roads for new subdivisions among other responsibilities mandated by state statutes and the county board. LCDOT aims to provide a safe and efficient transportation system to enhance mobility, economic development, quality of life while upholding core values of integrity, safety, community service, accountability, respect, innovation, and environmental responsibility.