Tunnel in the works for Millennium Trail near Round Lake

An underpass could help bike riders and runners on the Millennium Trail cross Wilson Road near Round Lake.

The tunnel is needed, Lake County Forest Preserve District officials said at a meeting Monday, because the speed limit on Wilson Road near Nippersink Road is 45 mph and sight lines are poor for motorists. That could be dangerous for people trying to get across the road.

When the crossing originally was discussed last fall, plans called for a bridge over Wilson Road. But upon further investigation, forest district staffers found a tunnel would result in the destruction of fewer trees in the heavily wooded area and cost much less.

“Bottom line, it is a $1 million difference,” said Michael Fenelon, the district’s director of planning, conservation and development.

A price tag for the project wasn’t mentioned during Monday’s planning and restoration committee meeting. More than $3 million was budgeted for engineering and construction of a crossing there.

The site isn’t far from the Baxter Healthcare Corp. headquarters. Baxter officials, who will give up some land to allow the crossing, prefer the underpass option, too, Fenelon said.

Baxter has security issues about a bridge, Fenelon said. The tunnel is not as much of a concern, he said.

“They’ve always been security conscious,” Fenelon said.

The Baxter property is on the east side of Wilson Road. The Marl Flat Forest Preserve is on the west side, and the tunnel would link the trail to the preserve, officials said.

The planning committee voted Monday to pursue the underpass option. The next step involves contracting with a firm to design the tunnel, Fenelon said.

The Millennium Trail has been under construction for a decade. It’s a planned 35-mile loop through central, western and northern Lake County that will connect to other trail systems.

Segments totaling more than 20 miles have been completed near Mundelein, Volo, Round Lake, Grayslake and Lindenhurst.