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Several key projects mark road construction season in Lake County, officials say

With road crews working busily behind them, Lake County officials gathered near Peterson Road in Grayslake on Thursday to symbolically kick off construction season.

Now, anyone who's been stuck in traffic staring at orange cones, work zone signs and brake lights knows construction has been happening for weeks on Lake County's roads. But county board Chairman Aaron Lawlor and other officials used the opportunity to promote some of the projects being funded with county tax dollars in the next few months.

They include:

• Widening Peterson Road

• Construction of a roundabout at River and Roberts roads near Tower Lakes.

• Widening Washington Street between Waukegan and the Round Lake area.

• Widening a stretch of Hawley Street in Mundelein.

• Resurfacing of a section of Quentin Road near Deer Park.

In all, more than $136 million in county funds will be spent on roadwork this year, officials said.

Lawlor especially touted the Peterson Road effort, which is split into two phases and could wrap up in 2016.

Such projects don't simply make it easier for people to drive from place to place, Lawlor said. They're also "economic development tools," he said.

"By making these transportation improvements, we're going to be able to move people to their jobs quicker," he said.

Better roads also make the county more attractive to developers looking for sites to launch new businesses, Lawlor said.

County board member Bonnie Thompson Carter and County Engineer Paula Trigg also stepped to the lectern to talk about this year's road projects.

Trigg noted road-improvement needs exceed the cash available for projects. She also acknowledged motorists can only handle so much roadwork at once.

"Putting our transportation program together is a real balancing act," she said.

Trigg and Lawlor also reminded motorists to take extra care when driving through construction zones.

People can learn about construction projects and transportation delays by visiting lakecountypassage.com/index.jsp, downloading the Lake County PASSAGE app for mobile devices or signing up for county e-newsletters.

  Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor talks about key roadwork projects that make it easier for people to drive from place to place and are "economic development tools." Lawlor made his comments Thursday during a news conference on Peterson Road in Grayslake. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Lake County Engineer Paula Trigg talks about the balancing act of crafting the transportation program because road improvement needs exceed funding for the projects. Trigg made her comments Thursday during a news conference on Peterson Road in Grayslake. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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