Proposed Route 53 extension has long history
• 1962: A north-south link in Lake County first identified as part of a network of highways throughout the Chicago region in the "Metropolitan Transporation Plan."
• 1964 to 1970: Construction of Route 53 from Addison to Arlington Heights.
• 1970 to 1990: Two environmental studies of the north extension initiated but discontinued based on "roadway priorities."
• Early 1970s: Illinois Department of Transportation begins buying property for Route 53 in Lake County.
• 1989: Route 53 extended north to Lake-Cook Road.
• 1998 to 2001: Extension among alternatives to ease traffic congestion in the Lake County Transportation Improvement Project, a joint effort by IDOT and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. A detailed study didn't advance because of environmental and funding concerns.
• 2006: Lake County officials establish Route 120 corridor planning council, which determined a four-lane boulevard as preferred design. Further study stalled by lack of funding.
• 2009: Three-quarters of votes in an advisory referendum supported the extension; about 21 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
• 2010: Lake County leaders lobby for the extension. Rocco Zucchero, tollway deputy chief of planning, describes it as the best single project to relieve traffic congestion in the Chicago region.
• 2010: Chicago regional planning group identifies Route 53 extension and Route 120 improvements as a priority in its long-range GO TO 2040 regional plan.
• 2011: Tollway authority includes planning for Route 53 extension in a proposed $12 billion batch of projects. The agency designated $126 million for studies of Route 53 and the Illiana Expressway, and appointed a blue ribbon advisory council.
• 2012: Blue ribbon council recommends Route 53 extension proceed as a boulevard-style tollway with extensive environmental safeguards.
• 2013: Finance and land use committees created to formulate recommendations to determine whether the tollway should continue to pursue the project.
• 2014: Finance committee assembles list of recommendations to be considered by tollway officials.
• 2015: State Sen. Terry Link and state Rep. Rita Mayfield, members of the blue ribbon advisory council and key backers of Route 53, withdraw their support, citing a departure from the guiding principals that rekindled the project.
• 2015: Tollway board votes to conduct an environmental impact study of extending Route 53 north.
• 2016: Then-Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, who co-chaired the blue ribbon panel, withdraws his support.
• 2017: Tollway board approves a $25 million environmental impact study contract with CH2M Hill Inc. and Knight E/A Inc.
• July 2018: The first open house in what has been rebranded and expanded by the tollway as the Tri-County access project is held in Lakemoor.
• October 2018: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning removes Route 53 extension from its priority list.
• July 2019: Lake County Board revises its strategic plan, Illinois tollway halts environmental impact study - effectively ending consideration of a Route 53 extension.
Sources: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning; Illinois Toll Highway Authority; Daily Herald reporting