Officials strike deal for last piece of land for Algonquin Road expansion

McHenry County now owns the final piece of land needed to finish the $28 million expansion of Algonquin Road, officials announced Thursday after a successful round of 11th-hour negotiations staved off the need for an eminent domain lawsuit.

County lawyers and representatives for the owners of Tom's Vegetable Market struck a deal allowing the county to buy nearly two acres of right-of-way fronting the business. In return, the market's owners will receive about $700,000, which covers not only the cost of the land but also any business damages caused by the construction.

Had a deal not been reached, the county board today was scheduled to authorize condemnation proceedings against the market's owners, litigation that could have delayed the project for months.

"This will allow us to get building this summer, we hope," said Dan Shea, chairman of the county board's transportation committee.

The parcel was the last right-of-way county officials needed to secure before beginning work on the second phase of the project to expand Algonquin Road from two to four lanes between Randall Road and Route 47.

The first phase of the project, from Randall to Annandale Drive, was finished in the late fall. The second phase is expected to begin in the spring and wrap up before next winter.