Road project won't disrupt downtown Antioch

News of a $20 million road widening project through Lake Villa and Antioch has the town's residents both pleased and worried.

When the two-year-long project was announced in early November, the promised congestion relief was welcome news, but it also is raising concerns about the potential disruption to businesses downtown and elsewhere.

State officials told nearly 125 people who attended a town hall meeting Thursday night at the Meeting House, a historical museum on Main Street in Antioch, that they don't expect downtown business to be adversely affected.

"We're not taking anything along the downtown area," said Jacek Tyszkiewicz, the Illinois Department of Transportation's chief construction engineer. "There's no widening through there. It's too narrow, too restricted."

Tyszkiewicz and state Sen. Michael Bond, a Grayslake Democrat and vice chairman of the Senate transportation committee, fielded a variety of questions as part of the project that calls for widening Route 83, adding a median and turn lane, sidewalks, improving drainage and modernizing traffic signals along the 4.6-mile route from Petite Lake Road in Lake Villa to the Wisconsin state line.

The biggest concern for village residents and business owners was about the possible disruption the project will cause for local businesses.

While Tyszkiewicz's comment seemed to allay fears about downtown, he was less certain about other areas.

"What's your definition of downtown?" was a follow-up question shouted by one member of the audience. Tyszkiewicz said he would have to look at the plan in more detail and didn't offer a precise answer.

Some business owners in other areas along the construction route say they fear they will be in the thick of the mess.

"I can guarantee that this is really going to hurt our business," said Norm Freund, who owns NRF Auto and Truck Repair in Lake Villa. "People are going to shy away from driving on Route 83, I just know it."

Bond said driveways to businesses will remain open during construction. He also said IDOT will provide each business with signs alerting drivers the businesses are open.

Upgrades to the drainage system and traffic signals, the installation of a sidewalk and other measures also are part of the plan, which would begin next summer. The entire project is expected to be done by fall 2010.

The stretch of road is used by 12,000 motorists each day.

"In two short years, we'll be driving on this and it will be a beautiful piece of infrastructure that will create jobs, generate economic activity and improve the quality of our lives," Bond said.