Rolling Meadows holding public meeting on Meacham Road expansion

Rolling Meadows will hold a public meeting Thursday regarding the proposed renovation and expansion of Meacham Road.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Plum Grove Junior High School, 4801 Old Plum Grove Road, in Rolling Meadows.

Notices of the meeting were sent out to about 200 residents who reside near the roadway, which in Rolling Meadows stretches between Algonquin Road and Emerson Avenue. That two-lane stretch, the most narrow portion of Meacham Road, could expand to as many as five lanes under plans that have been discussed for years.

Now, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg are undertaking an engineering study to look at options for the roadway. Engineers will look at traffic studies, concept designs, evaluations of sidewalks and bike paths, and impact on existing parkways.

The two municipalities have about $2.5 million in federal funding for improvements and could get another $1 million if the project moves forward.

In the meantime, there has been debate in Rolling Meadows over whether to expand the road to three lanes or five lanes. Residents who live near Meacham and Mayor Tom Rooney have spoken out against the idea of a five-lane road, although that may be what the Illinois Department of Transportation recommends based on traffic projections.

According to a traffic study, more than 20,000 cars a day will pass through that stretch of Meacham by 2040, compared to about 14,000 per day now.

Engineering exhibits will be on display Thursday showing the existing roadway conditions and options for future improvements. At 6:30 p.m., a presentation and overview will be given by the project engineer and city staff members, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The meeting is not a formal public hearing, but for informational purposes only.