ComEd utility work to shut down Route 176 in Mundelein

Beware, central Lake County commuters: A section of Route 176 in Mundelein will be closed to cars for three weeks starting Friday because of utility work.

And while the segment of road to be shut down is short, the traffic-related headaches the projects will cause might be huge.

ComEd crews will shut down about 500 feet of Route 176 — also called Maple Avenue in that area — between Route 45 and the railroad tracks east of Seymour Avenue so they can bury power lines that have been stretched overhead between poles. The project is expected to improve the reliability of the electrical system and improve the appearance of the area, according to an announcement from Mundelein village hall.

West of Route 45, power lines will be buried on both sides of Route 176 and beneath the roadway itself, said Public Works and Engineering Director Robert Greenfield. East of Route 45, workers will focus on the roadway.

Small sections of Seymour Avenue and Route 45 will be shut down, too.

Detour signs will direct motorists to use Winchester Road, which is north of Route 176.

Drivers should plan for additional travel time and consider alternative routes if possible, according to the village announcement.

Once the work on Route 176 is complete, sections of alleys near Seymour will be temporarily closed for the next phase of the project. The schedule will depend on the progress of the first phase, officials said, but officials anticipate the alleys will be closed from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11.

Project updates, traffic information and schedule changes will be published on the village’s website, mundelein.org, and on its social media pages.

rlissau@dailyherald.com