Rolling Meadows to remake Golf, New Wilke

Ten years ago Rolling Meadows officials looked at Golf and New Wilke roads and decided they needed some work.

But a reconstruction project would cost millions and state and federal officials would have to pitch in.

So they put the project off.

Then Meijer opened a $35 million store in 2004 and officials built a new street, added a traffic light and improved Golf and Algonquin roads.

So once again, the New Wilke Road project got a look at the back burner.

But now, the $7.5 million intersection project is back, and this time for good. On Tuesday, the Rolling Meadows city council approved a $200,000 engineering study for the project.

State officials agreed to contribute $3 million, federal officials will pay $2.5 million, and Rolling Meadows will pitch in $2 million to fund the project, said Fred Vogt, director of public works.

"This has been a complex project, but the state and federal highway administration have committed to the funding," he said.

Construction should begin in early 2009 and last most of the year. Drivers should expect lane closures and delays for much of that time, Vogt said.

"Drivers will remember the lane closures from the Golf Road state paving project several years back," Vogt said. "We want to do better than that. We'll give people advance notice and there will be plenty of signs. It will be a pain, but we'll do the best we can."

The project includes widening Golf Road from the Interstate 90 bridge to the Marketplace shopping center intersection. The project will also widen portions of New Wilke Road, Vogt said,

The project will also add:

• New traffic signals at Golf and New Wilke roads.

• New traffic signals at the Golf Road and Marketplace shopping center intersection.

• A third lane to eastbound and westbound Golf Road.

• A second left-turn lane for eastbound Golf Road onto northbound New Wilke Road.

• A third southbound lane to New Wilke Road.

• A third northbound lane to New Wilke Road coming from Continental Towers.