Planning for Carpentersville corridor starts

Final approval of a regional Fox River crossing in Dundee Township still is years away, but Carpentersville officials want to make sure they have appropriate developments in the right areas.

The village is accepting bids from consultants to conduct a land-use study for property along the proposed Longmeadow Parkway Corridor, which would link Carpentersville and Huntley.

Community Development Director Cindy McCammack said the plan would provide guidance for development to promote the corridor's limited access and economic development opportunities.

"The corridor is intended to move traffic quickly east and west," McCammack said. "The plan will provide appropriate guidelines to protect the system's performance."

A $150,000 grant from the state's transportation body will fund the study.

Focus will be on improving local street connectivity, mitigating impacts of the corridor on surrounding established neighborhoods, providing appropriate site design for commercial conveniences, and creating a walkable town center, McCammack said in the village's request for proposals.

Additionally, McCammack said the plan will emphasize protection of pristine open spaces, the promotion of bicycle and pedestrian features and also will seek the input of landowners, the community and local leaders.

Construction of the 5.6-mile bridge and corridor connecting routes 25 and 31 is estimated at $88 million. The 2005 federal transportation package earmarked $4 million for land acquisition and engineering.

A special committee of village leaders from Algonquin Carpentersville, and East and West Dundee was formed recently to study the feasibility of building a tollway at the corridor.

There are no firm plans to build the regional crossing, which would be the first river crossing in the area since the Northwest Tollway extension was constructed in the 1950s.

Still, Village Manager Craig Anderson said there is no harm in planning ahead.

"As far as the actual project getting final approval, that is a ways down the road," he said. "But we want to make sure we have development that is compatible with the corridor."

At least 10 municipalities have passed resolutions supporting a toll system.