Huntley reviews updates to interchange

Design elements that have tied up a major overhaul of the interchange at Interstate 90 and Route 47 in Huntley have been reconciled, but the project is now more than five months behind the initial schedule.

Representatives from Chicago-based engineering firm GRAEF presented a status update of the project to the Huntley village board Thursday. The plan that has been in the works for about a decade will add four new on- and offramps, as well as four toll booths to the interchange. Route 47 will also be widened to four lanes southbound and three lanes northbound.

Peter Johnston, a principal at GRAEF, said the proposed free flow ramp from westbound Interstate 90 to northbound Route 47 caused problems because of the ramp's proximity to Jim Dhamer Drive and Freeman Road just north of the bridge. Johnston said the design would cause a “weave pattern” for vehicles heading north on Route 47 who want to turn right on Jim Dhamer Drive and for vehicles exiting north onto Route 47 from the interstate who want to make a left at Freeman Road.

To alleviate the potential traffic problem, the Illinois Department of Transportation required a stop light at the exit.

The original project schedule estimated the award of contracts in summer 2011 with construction to start shortly thereafter. But Johnston said the design issue delayed the Phase II engineering of the project and estimated contracts would be awarded in January 2012.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said the estimated cost of the project is $70 million, of which the village will contribute about $6 million. The project also includes the counties of Kane and McHenry, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. The highway authority is covering almost half of the price tag $30 million while the department of transportation is responsible for about $16 million.

The completion of the interchange overhaul is now projected for early 2014.

“We are hopeful,” Johnson said. “Everyone has been working hard. The village has been working on this for over a decade and we continue to emphasize the importance of this to our state leaders. We are spending considerable time and effort to make this a reality.”