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IDOT to update Vernon Hills on $73 million Route 45 widening project

No one will hold their breath waiting for the start of construction, but Vernon Hills officials will get a status report Tuesday on a major proposed road project that has been on the wish list for 30 years.

Representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation are scheduled to update the village board and answer questions concerning the $73 million project to widen about 5 miles of Route 45 mainly through Vernon Hills but also in Lincolnshire and Mundelein to the east and west, respectively.

"It's important," said David Brown, Vernon Hills' village engineer/public works director. "We have some new board members and we'd like to get them up to speed."

Besides giving an update and answering questions, IDOT will seek commitments from the municipalities regarding cost sharing for traffic signals, paths, lighting and other aspects. Vernon Hills' share is estimated at $2.6 million.

The board will consider the information during its work session after the regular meeting at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive.

Suggested by Vernon Hills officials in the 1980s to ease congestion through burgeoning business and residential areas, the proposal has moved slowly through required processes.

The estimated $73 million project consists of rebuilding and widening busy Route 45 to provide two travel lanes in each direction separated by a median with bike/pedestrian paths. It also would include underground storm sewers to improve drainage.

Two public information sessions and a public hearing were held several years ago. Preliminary engineering and environmental studies are completed, and the project now is in Phase 2, which deals with finalizing plans and specifications for eventual bidding. Brown estimated IDOT is about 70 percent complete with what part of the process.

Then the state has to come up with the money, Brown said.

"We're looking forward to having them complete the Phase 2 process and have it shovel ready so that will create opportunities to fund the project," he added.

Construction is not on IDOT's current five-year plan for funding.

However, Trustee Jim Schultz, a project supporter in his fourth village board term, said an update will be valuable.

"Because it is such a long-running project, refreshing the public's mind is worthwhile," he said. "Plus, it provides the opportunity to close the loop on some housekeeping issues."

Given the cost and history, no one expects a quick turnaround. That was also the case in 2013, when, with little chance the project would be built in a timely manner, IDOT spent $1.87 million to resurface and patch the stretch.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will update Vernon Hills officials on a long-proposed project to widen Route 45 through town. Courtesy of IDOT
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