New lanes, signs can't keep truck from getting stuck
Construction signs usually are reliable, but those saying the new lanes are open on Butterfield Road in Libertyville convey only part of the story.
On the north end of a seemingly endless project, traffic barriers remain in place, as a trio of snags has kept the Lake County Division of Transportation from opening all five lanes.
Striping needs to be finished before that can happen. And that requires at least a day of above-freezing temperature with dry pavement. Otherwise, the paint won't adhere.
That's led to a sometimes confusing traffic pattern, particularly at what used to be a full-access entrance serving Butterfield Square shopping center to the east and Ashley Capital industrial/office property to the west. The Daily Herald office is in the latter.
Access is now limited. Southbound motorists, for example, can no longer turn left to enter Sunset Foods and other shops. A sign is in place to that effect.
On the other side of the road, travelers going north can't turn left into Ashley. While it would be a difficult maneuver, given changes to the road at that point, there has been no warning.
At least two vehicles, including a semitrailer truck, learned that lesson Wednesday, getting stuck in a dip partially hidden by snow. Tows were required.
Road officials thought motorists might be tempted to try the left into Sunset, but didn't expect someone to try it from the other side, said Al Giertych, assistant county engineer.
"They're going to put a temporary sign out (Thursday)," he said. "The best case is to get everybody to the new entrance."
That entrance, to the south, is a realigned version of the original. It will allow large trucks to head north from the industrial area. Smaller vehicles can use it to exit and enter.
It's essentially complete, but there's one last detail to be solved.
"There's a Comcast cable across that entrance about 12 feet high," Giertych said. "The concern is if a semi tried to make a turn, it'll catch that and rip it down."
Of all utilities to deal with in a road project, cable is the least problematic, he said, and a quick resolution is being sought.
Once this section is complete -- it runs 1.4 miles from Route 137 to Ridgewood Lane -- it will be the first county highway widened from end to end.
Butterfield runs 5.6 miles from Route 45 in Vernon Hills to Route 137. Construction began in 1998 and has continued in sections, though not continuously. The final cost will be $36 million.