Q&A: New Arrowhead Golf Club clubhouse may prompt new signal

Q. I believe a stop light should be installed at Arrowhead Drive and Route 56/Butterfield Road in Wheaton. The Wheaton Park District opened a new $16 million clubhouse at the golf course at the end of 2006, and there is now a lot more traffic with receptions and meetings in addition to the golfers.

Butterfield is a two-lane undivided road with no left turn lanes, and the speed limit is 55 mph. You take your life into your hands trying to pull out onto Butterfield from the clubhouse or Arrowhead Drive. It's really dangerous during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Also, I know Butterfield has been scheduled to be widened from Naperville Road to Route 59 for what seems like the past 10 years, but it keeps getting put back even though the land seems to have been acquired years ago. What's going on? With the amount of traffic that uses the road, it should have been a priority.

-- L. M., Wheaton

A. Patrick Renosa, project engineer with Illinois Department of Transportation's Region 1 office in Schaumburg, said Wheaton Park District has asked IDOT to look into putting a traffic signal at the intersection you're talking about.

"It's being looked at by our Bureau of Traffic right now" said Rinosa

"They're required to do traffic counts and other research to make sure the intersection meets IDOT's minimum requirements for installing a traffic signal."

As far as the widening of Butterfield Road from Naperville road west to Route 59, that project does finally have a green light, and financing has already been lined up for it.

Roger Valente, area programmer for DuPage County, said IDOT is doing preliminary engineering studies for widening Butterfield Road right now.

"We're scheduled to have a public meeting by the end of the year or early next year to let the public know about the proposed project," said Valente.

"At the meeting, citizens will be able to ask questions, offer suggestions, or make comments."

The earliest the project will begin will be 2010.

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