‘Huge improvement’: Underpass construction in southern Lake County set to begin in 2029

Construction of an underpass expected to be among the largest projects ever undertaken by the Lake County Division of Transportation could begin in 2029.

The Lake County Board appropriated $7.6 million Tuesday to acquire right of way and pay for other costs associated with road and pedestrian path improvements along Old McHenry Road from Fairfield Road to Forest Drive.

It is a key step in a yearslong process to relieve traffic congestion in the Hawthorn Woods/Lake Zurich/Kildeer area.

The Old McHenry Crossings project, which has been estimated to cost $150 million, will include an underpass below the Canadian National railroad tracks.

Nearly 30,000 vehicles a day traverse the corridor where four highly traveled regional highways, including Fairfield, Midlothian and Quentin roads, converge.

Besides the underpass, planned work includes intersection improvements at Fairfield and Midlothian roads, lanes additions on Quentin Road and nonmotorized improvements throughout the project area.

“It will be a huge improvement not only for traffic but for safety,” county board member Jessica Vealitzek, who represents the area, said after Tuesday’s vote.

“It’s probably one of our worst at-grade (railroad) crossing in terms of congestion. I’m looking forward to see it progressing,” added board member Adam Schlick, who’s also a division chief with the Wauconda Fire District.

Board member Jennifer Clark, who chairs the county board’s public works and transportation committee, described Old McHenry Crossing as a “transformational” project.

Frequent trains and three closely spaced intersections on Old McHenry Road have resulted in high traffic volume, delays and hundreds of crashes.

Tuesday’s action was a big step for the work remain on target for a construction launch in 2029, according to LCDOT spokesperson Alex Carr.

Due to the project size, Phase II (design engineering and land acquisition) and Phase III (construction) will be broken out into three separate contracts, he said.

The underpass and associated improvements to Old McHenry Road are included in Contract 1, Carr said.

Design engineering and land acquisition will continue through 2028, he added.

Contract 2 involves Old McHenry Road improvements from Echo Lake Road to Fairfield Road and a multiuse path from Abbey Glenn Drive to Fairfield Road. Contract 3 is the reconstruction of Quentin Road from Route 22 to Old McHenry Road, which will include a new multiuse path and intersection and drainage improvements.

The timing of those contracts is to be determined, Carr said.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com