Mount Prospect buys land for intersection improvements near Randhurst
Mount Prospect is taking another step toward relieving congestion at one of its most crowded intersections.
The village board voted Tuesday on an intergovernmental agreement to acquire land to pave the way for improvements where Rand Road, Route 83 and Kensington Road meet.
Located at the south end of Randhurst Village shopping center, the intersection has long been considered a traffic nightmare. Drivers often gripe about long delays getting through the intersection and frequently cut-through neighboring streets to avoid the gridlock.
Trustees authorized Mayor Paul Hoefert to sign a joint funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for land acquisition costs. The agreement allows the village to access federal funds for the project.
The village estimates land acquisition costs at $2.25 million. Mount Prospect has been awarded $114,940 in federal Surface Transportation Program funds, as well as $1.6 million in federal Community Project Funding through U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. The village’s local match is $450,000.
Public Works Director Sean Dorsey said 26 properties will be impacted and there will be two types of acquisition.
One involves temporary construction easements that will allow storage of materials and access to the work site.
“It’s temporary in nature, and the property reverts back to the owner in the same condition or better,” he said.
The other is acquiring permanent right of way to install infrastructure, such as sidewalks or curbs.
The village will pay the property owners directly and receive reimbursement from IDOT with $1.8 million in federal funds.
The intersection improvement plan calls for road widening; additional turn lanes and through lanes to allow cars to move through the intersection more quickly; improvements to the timing and coordination of signals; the continuation of a bike path; and pedestrian crossing signals.
Dorsey said the entire project will cost more than $15 million, with the village’s share at 20%. He said the village is hoping to bid the project by 2025 or 2026.