Consultant recommends route for Cedar Lake Road realignment proposal

Round Lake and Lake County officials are discussing possible routes for the long-planned Cedar Lake Road realignment in the village's downtown after a consultant recommended an option that would run west of village hall and the Metra station.

Crawford, Murphy and Tilly, consultants for the county, recommended the route after determining six others would have too much impact on wetlands or historic buildings, or would come too close to Magee Middle School. Their proposal is the safest, the consultants said.

The project, under consideration since the 1960s, is designed to eliminate a dogleg through downtown by building a new connection for Cedar Lake Road between Nippersink Road and Hart Road.

If the study is completed this year, construction could begin as soon as 2023. The total project cost is estimated at $16.86 million.

Mayor Daniel A. MacGillis said he sees promising movement after decades of discussion on the proposal, which is meant to improve safety and potential for economic growth while decreasing travel time.

Responsibility for the construction project has changed hands over the years. As jurisdiction changed from the state to Lake County in 2012, the county has been obtaining state and federal funds to complete the work.

Round Lake Director of Economic & Community Development Katie Parkhurst said a special meeting Sunday addressed the village board's concerns regarding issues such as the speed limit, the size of the road, how the work would affect trains in the area, a proposed school exit to Hart Road, and right-of-way changes that could lead to an increase in crashes.

"This is one of the most important decisions the board will ever make," MacGillis said. "We've all been talking about it for way too many years already. My dad was mayor in the '60s and the village has been discussing this."

Although 90% of the road would go through village-owned property, the board still has concerns about a potential impact on two houses on Nippersink Road that qualify as historic properties by the state. Parkhurst said the houses are not officially designated, but they are properties that should be avoided if there are alternatives.

One property on a proposed route includes a house owned by MacGillis. However, he said he would recuse himself if that route were chosen. The favored route does not run through his property.

"The village board is very excited to bring economic development to the downtown Round Lake area," Parkhurst said. "We want to make sure we're a partner with the county and the village's vision.

The county hopes to schedule a stakeholder meeting later this fall.