Barrington leader seeks support for Lake Zurich Road intersection shift
Barrington Village President Karen Darch wants support from 18 governments for a proposal to shift Lake Zurich Road's intersection with Northwest Highway - a move proponents contend would boost driver safety in the area.
Darch hopes support from the other governments by a June 9 deadline could sway Barrington Public Library District officials, who question the idea of selling a parking lot near the main entrance to accommodate the Lake Zurich Road project.
The library has cited noise and safety concerns for not wanting to sell the lot to the village of Barrington for the proposed intersection shift. Library spokeswoman Karen McBride declined to comment on Darch's letter.
Darch wrote that realigning Lake Zurich Road south, so it intersects with a traffic signal at Northwest Highway and Berry Road at the library, would be a safety enhancement. Her letter went to the 18 villages and townships within the Barrington library district's boundaries and asks the governments to approve a resolution favoring the plan.
She cited 14 crashes in the past 18 months at Lake Zurich Road and Northwest Highway in saying the realignment should be pursued for safety reasons. A stop sign controls traffic on westbound Lake Zurich Road at Northwest Highway.
Darch said Monday it would be helpful if the library sees Barrington is not the only government in favor of the using the parking lot to accommodate the Lake Zurich Road plan.
"It's a big district and it covers a lot (of towns)," she said.
Deer Park village board members last week gave a thumbs-up to the Lake Zurich Road project resolution as requested by Darch.
"It seems like it's a smart idea," Deer Park Village President Dale Sands said.
If built, the $3.5 million project would be funded mostly from federal and state sources, with the village picking up an estimated $348,700. Berry Road would be widened if Lake Zurich Road shifted south under the proposal the resolution says would benefit 3,000 daily travelers with a signalized intersection.
Barrington, which budgeted about $1.7 million for nine property purchases, nearly three months ago started buying parcels needed for the realignment. Darch said the Barrington Park District already is on board with the idea of selling land to the village for the proposal.
A separate, $59 million proposal calls for a Northwest Highway underpass at the Canadian National Railway tracks nearby.