Lake County kicks off $98 million construction program
Crews already are at work in some areas of Lake County but that’s just a taste of what’s in store for motorists and trail users.
The full brunt of what to expect was released Wednesday as the Lake County Division of Transportation announced a $98 million 2026 construction program.
About 30 transportation-related projects will be under construction this season with a focus on maintaining and modernizing county roads, paths and bridges, according to LCDOT.
The list includes $61 million in new projects and $37 million for two carryover projects expected: widening the intersection as well as trails and other improvements at Hunt Club Road and Washington Street in the Gurnee area; and, rebuilding Arlington Heights Road between Lake-Cook Road and Route 83 in the Buffalo Grove/Long Grove area.
Both are about 75% complete and estimated to be complete in August although all lanes should be open before that, according to LCDOT.
Besides those two, the construction program includes 14 miles of road resurfacing; three roundabouts; new trails and other work to accommodate bikes and pedestrians; an intersection improvement at Washington Street and Route 21 near Gurnee; bridge repairs; culvert replacements; and, patching and other maintenance projects.
The Hunt Club Road project was to have wrapped up last year but there were many utility delays, according to LCDOT.
When complete, all legs of the intersection will have dual left-turn lanes and a right-turn lane with the extension of a bike path just east of the intersection and a new path along Hunt Club north to Dada Drive.
Removing the old concrete surface and replacing it with asphalt along 1.5 miles of Arlington Heights Road as well as improving the storm sewer system to handle heavier rainfall and filling path and sidewalk gaps are other project elements.
Roundabouts on Russell Road along the Wisconsin border at intersections with Kenosha and Lewis avenues and a third at Deep Lake Road and Depot Street in Antioch are on the 2026 project list. When complete it will bring Lake County’s roundabout total to 14.
Construction also is underway to fill bike path and sidewalk gaps along Washington Street from Sextant Drive to Almond Road in the Grayslake/Gurnee area.
According to LCDOT, its top priority is to maintain existing roads, paths and bridges to keep them in good repair. Six resurfacing projects and four bridge repairs are in the 2026 construction program.
Visit lakecountyil.gov for an interactive construction of all projects. Real-time local traffic information is available at lakecountypassage.com and updates are available on LCDOT’s Facebook and Instagram pages.