Utility work related to Barrington underpass expected to cause traffic delays

Drivers passing through Barrington can expect some delays related to the village’s Route 14 underpass project, beginning Tuesday.

As part of the project, AT&T crews will be doing utility relocation work along northbound Hough Street/Route 59 just south of Route 14.

One northbound lane will be closed through Friday, June 12, weather permitting.

Village officials said drivers should expect possible delays and use caution in the area.

John Vogelman, resident engineer with Itasca-based Civiltech Engineering Inc., which is handling the design and construction engineering of the underpass, said the work will allow construction of a new box culvert storm sewer underneath Route 59.

“Then we need to construct a deep storm sewer that’s 30-feet deep that will drain the underpass,” he said.

Other ongoing underpass work includes building the railroad bridge to carry Canadian National Railway traffic over Route 14. Vogelman said challenges include digging three large pits next to a current live railroad track to construct bridge abutments while maintaining safe rail traffic.

The underpass, which will stretch from Valencia Avenue to Hough Street, running underneath the Canadian National Railway tracks aims to alleviate traffic congestion and improve emergency response times by separating vehicle and Canadian National Railway traffic. At the Route 14 crossing alone, nearly 30,000 vehicles pass per day.

The project's origins date back to 2008 when Canadian National purchased the EJ & E railroad, which greatly increased traffic on the line.

Construction is expected to conclude next year.