Brace yourself for backups near Barrington crossing

Getting through downtown Barrington is going to be a good deal tougher over the coming weeks.

Starting today, the Union Pacific railroad company, in conjunction with Metra, will begin a complete reconstruction of the rail crossing on Route 59-Hough Street.

No vehicles will be able to cross the tracks there through Sept. 28.

Route 59 will be closed between Route 14 and Lake-Cook Road-Main Street, though drivers still should have access to businesses north and south of the tracks.

Barrington Village Manager Denise Pieroni said the entire crossing will be replaced. Metra service is not expected to be disrupted.

A detour will be in place during the construction, which Pieroni said will advise drivers to use Main Street and Route 14.

Barrington Area Unit District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard said school buses passing through that area will be operating on normal schedules.

Leonard said the high school, a few blocks down on Main Street, will be most affected.

A letter has gone out to parents, asking those whose children drive to school to have them leave early, car pool or take the bus.

"Obviously, the fewer number of cars we have in the area, the better off we will be," Leonard said.

Updates on the project will be posted on the village Web site, ci.barrington.il.us, as well as on local access Channel 4.

Those with questions can call Barrington's public works department at (847) 381-7903 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.