‘A significant milestone’: $9.6M for land acquisition key to huge Cedar Lake Road project
A long-sought, multipronged project meant to untangle traffic in downtown Round Lake, assist rail commuters, pedestrians and trail users as well as provide a boost for business is on the clock.
The idea to realign Cedar Lake Road has been around for generations and gone through various iterations and delays. Planning for what has evolved into a $70 million project with a host of associated improvements officially began 10 years ago.
This past week, the Lake County Board’s $9.6 million appropriation to acquire right of way for the project between Hart and Nippersink roads provided a tangible frame of reference.
“The village has long anticipated the Cedar Lake Road Realignment project and this marks another significant milestone in moving the project forward,” said Mayor Brian Brubaker.
Several agencies are involved in the project that’s much bigger than straightening a curve or adding a lane. Construction alone is estimated to be as much as $50 million of the total $70 million cost.
Work will include five new intersections along Cedar Lake Road from Hart Road to Nippersink Road as well as more than 3 miles of new sidewalks and bike paths.
Other major elements include relocating the existing at-grade rail crossing to keep trains from blocking traffic, building a new Metra station in a different location and redesigning the parking lot to improve access and safety.
Brubaker said the village is prepared to make significant infrastructure and streetscape improvements, including an outdoor gathering space for community events to support redevelopment and retain businesses in advance of the project.
Village Administrator Brandy Schroff described it as an opportunity to redevelop and revitalize downtown. Developing several village-owned parcels, for example, will help existing businesses and create new opportunities, she said.
“It is very exciting to see this long-planned vision take shape and move us toward a more connected, active, and vibrant downtown for current and future generations,” she said.
Two years ago, supporters became cautiously optimistic the project actually would be built after an $18.8 million federal grant — one of the largest federal investments for a local infrastructure project Lake County has ever received — was secured.
About the same time, detailed engineering required in advance of construction got underway. The next key step is acquiring right of way and other properties.
Ninety-four parcels including 63 related to right of way will be impacted by the project, according to Shane Schneider, director of the Lake County Division of Transportation and county engineer. One home and six businesses will be displaced.
According to the grant requirements, project work has to be let for bids before September 2028 or risk losing the funding. Schneider said the county can take possession of the property with the help of the Illinois Department of Transportation before a final settlement price is reached to meet the deadline.
“There are many steps in getting a big project out, coordination with several agencies is big and seeking approvals also is big,” said Chuck Gleason, LCDOT’s manager of capital project development. “Time ticks away on all of these.”