Plan to widen Randall Road could take 26 homes with it

Deborah Jenssen has mixed feelings about the number 26.

For 26 years, the Lake in the Hills woman has lived in her Patton Avenue home with her husband, Bob.

The pair reared two children in the house and love living there, thinking about all of the happy memories they've made.

But Jenssen also feels apprehensive about the number 26.

That's the number of homes, including hers, McHenry County may seek to level on Patton Avenue, Clayton Marsh Drive and Miller Road as part of its plan to widen Randall Road.

"We love our neighborhood and would like it to not be changed," Jenssen said. "We could live anywhere. Most of us live here intentionally because we like it, and we're a very close community."

Jenssen learned of the plan last week at an informational meeting about the project and since has made it her business to spread the word to her neighbors.

An official from the county transportation division said authorities did not notify residents about the possible demolitions before last week's meeting because they've not determined whether they'll carry it out. The plan, one of four transportation leaders have crafted, is part of an overall scheme to widen 3 miles of Randall Road between County Line and Ackman roads. Some of that work is already in progress at County Line and Harnish roads in Algonquin, said Wally Dittrich, the department's design manager. The latest leg of the project, which has not yet been funded, may cost between $60 and 100 million and could pull elements from all four options, Dittrich said. In the end, the one that involves demolishing the 26 homes could prove to be the least popular, he said."Is that necessarily the most favorable or what the county would want to do?" he said. "Not necessarily, but it's something we have to look at so we have all the information when we move forward." The division of transportation will accept public input on each of the plans until Oct. 24. For details about them or to send a comment, visit www.randallroad.info.The division of transportation is expected to outline its final plan in the spring. 512299The McHenry County Division of Transportation could demolish homes 26 homes in Lake in the Hills -- some here in the 1100 block of Patton Avenue -- to make way for the widening of Randall Road.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer