Lake County Gazette

Lake County has announced the completion of the US 41 at Stearns School Road intersection project, marking the occasion with a gathering of local officials in north-central Lake County.

According to a press release, Lake County and the Illinois Department of Transportation have completed a $6 million project aimed at reducing serious and fatal crashes at the intersection of US 41 and Stearns School Road. This intersection had recorded over 100 accidents in five years. The improvements target one of north-central Lake County’s most congested and hazardous intersections, with the goal of improving driver safety and reducing delays.

Major changes to the roadway included the addition of new turn lanes: a right-turn and left-turn lane for southbound US 41, a second left-turn lane for northbound US 41, a second right-turn lane on eastbound Stearns School Road, and a westbound receiving lane. Traffic signal timing was also upgraded with "green arrow only" left-turn phases, which are shown to cut down on left-turn-related crashes by as much as 99%. In addition to these traffic flow enhancements, the culvert under Stearns School Road was extended and storm sewer systems along US 41 were rebuilt to match the new road layout.

This safety-focused initiative was funded through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) managed the engineering and land acquisition phases, expediting the process, while the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) oversaw construction. The project was evaluated using federal and state criteria and achieved a Benefit-Cost Ratio of nearly 6:1.

The 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 carries out additional functions as required by state statutes and the county board. LCDOT aims to provide a safe, efficient transportation system to improve mobility, economic development, and quality of life while maintaining core values such as integrity, safety, community service, accountability, respect, innovation, and environmental responsibility.