Learn about Washington St. project at Grayslake open house
After decades of incremental improvements, the last segments of major work on Washington Street through central Lake County are set to begin.
These final steps come on the heels of the widening and other upgrades on Washington Street from west of Hainesville Road to Cedar Lake Road, which was completed last summer. The last sections are from where the construction ended last year east to Haryan Way and from Haryan Way to Lake Street.
Motorists and area residents can get a look at what is to come during an open house set for 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Grayslake village hall, 10 S. Seymour Ave. Representatives from the Lake County Division of Transportation and consultants will be available to discuss and answer questions about the $21.5 million Washington Street underpass. Maps, exhibits and schedules also will be available. Visit http://www.washingtonthoroghfareproject.com.
Originally envisioned as a single project, the sections were split to get things moving. Trees have been removed on the north side of the street and crews have begun installing sanitary sewers for the eastern leg of the project in Grayslake. The main feature is an underpass of Washington Street beneath a bridge carrying the Canadian National tracks, which are used by freight and commuter trains.
The underpass and related work is expected to be among the most expensive road projects during this construction season. The project includes: a half-mile of four-lane concrete pavement with a landscaped median; a sidewalk and bike path; a temporary roadway; new retaining wall on the south side of Washington Street; and a temporary boarding platform at the Metra station, among other features.
"The underpass will take two construction seasons. It will be done at the end of 2016," said Matt Emde, project manager for the division of transportation.
Land acquisition continues on the section from Grandview Drive, west of Hainesville Road in Hainesville, to Haryan Way in Grayslake. The plan is to award bids for the work this summer and have it complete near the end of 2016, about the same time as the other section. An open house to be scheduled also will be held for that portion of the project.
Once complete, the 11-mile length of Washington Street from its Round Lake east to Green Bay Road in Waukegan will have been widened and improved, a continuous process that began about 25 years ago.
Local funding for both sections come from a regional sales tax hike approved a few years ago and used by the county for larger projects.