Buffalo Grove board clears the way for upcoming roadwork
Buffalo Grove trustees cleared the path Tuesday for short- and long-term road projects, starting with upgrades to Thompson Boulevard and Brandywyn Lane.
The entire project is expected to cost $12.2 million, but 80%, or $9.8 million, will be funded by the federal government through a Surface Transportation Program grant.
The village is moving ahead with Phase III engineering work on the project by entering into a contract with construction management engineer Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $358,000.
The board approved the engineering contract, as well as an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation that commits the village to spending $1.3 million on this year's portion of the project to match the federal funds it receives.
This year's work - on Brandywyn Lane from Aptakisic Road to Thompson Boulevard, and on Thompson from Brandywyn to Buffalo Grove Road - is expected to begin in April and end in November.
Trustee Joanne Johnson gave kudos to the village for securing the federal dollars.
"I just want to reiterate the massive savings that our village is incurring through federal funding on this program," she said.
Another project, scheduled for further down the road, will involve improvements to Arlington Heights Road north of Route 83.
The Lake County Department of Transportation has agreed to do the design work for the village, since it is also designing improvements for its portion of Arlington Heights Road south of Route 83 and as far south as Lake-Cook Road, slated for 2024.
Trustees voted in favor of the village committing to pay Lake County $159,000 for the design work on the village's section.
"It's a lot easier to go with IDOT once to get the permits ... instead of having two different parties trying to go in there and get this work done," Village Engineer Darren Monico said.
Trustees also passed an ordinance calling for the removal of turning restrictions at Lexington Drive and Armstrong Drive beginning Feb. 1. After that, vehicles will no longer be limited to making left turns from westbound Armstrong Drive onto southbound Lexington Drive between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.