Extra $28 million aids Lake County roadwork

The money won't be available until July, but Lake County leaders are refining road work options that might be done with an extra $28 million each year.

Delayed projects or those that have the necessary advance work complete will receive serious consideration. County leaders also will look for big-bang projects, with an eye toward improvements near "mega sites."

"When you have that revenue source, it will be a great opportunity for us to make a difference," said Lake County Board member Diana O'Kelly, chairman of the public works and transportation committee.

The windfall comes from the recently approved transit bail out package. Besides the quarter percent sales tax increase for mass transit, collar counties received another quarter percent for transportation projects.

The county wants to have a list of projects and a budget ready when the money becomes available. Specifics are to be determined, but one suggestion is to tie projects into potential "mega sites" such as the Central Range in Grayslake.

"We want to do projects the public will say 'they're making good decisions with their extra money,'" said Marty Buehler, director of transportation.

In that area, for example, there are plans in place to widen Peterson Road from Route 45 to Route 83, but no funding.

The county works from a five-year plan, but a lack of funds last year forced an extension to six years. That meant some projects were delayed, creating a cumulative back log of possibilities.

"There's no shortage of projects," Buehler told committee members Wednesday. The new money will allow the county flexibility in certain circumstances, such as providing its share of a project.

One that likely will get a boost is the $9 million improvement of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from Green Bay Road to Sheridan Road in North Chicago. That is ready to go but requires a $3 million county match, which wasn't available.

That project is important because it is expected to boost the city's redevelopment effort in that corridor.

One persistent theme was projects should make a noticeable difference in daily commuting. O'Kelly cited the recently completed Fairfield/Gilmer Road overpass as an example.

"It made an enormous difference in the movement of people," she said. "Something like that."

County officials plan a public information campaign to outline the projects once the list is finalized.