Road projects start up again in Huntley

Motorists should expect delays when traveling through Huntley as work to widen Route 47 between Reed and Kreutzer roads picks up for the season and a major overhaul of the interchange at the Jane Addams Tollway and Route 47 is set to begin.

The Illinois Department of Transportation started the remaining work on Route 47 last week, which includes sidewalk installation, lane marking and landscaping, said Lisa Armour, senior assistant to the village manager in Huntley.

Armour said while the widening of the road has been completed, temporary lane closures will be needed to finish the final pieces. The project is expected to wrap up in June, Armour said.

In addition, the village is preparing for work to begin on the interchange at Interstate 90 and Route 47. The project, which is being done in collaboration with IDOT, Kane and McHenry countries, Huntley and the Illinois Tollway Authority, completes an existing interchange that currently provides access to and from the east. Work includes the construction of six new ramps, the reconstruction of Route 47 over the tollway and new traffic lights.

Though an exact start date is not available, a news release from the tollway says construction is set to begin in the spring with ramps opening in summer of 2013. Existing ramps will remain open during construction and traffic shifts will keep as many lanes open as possible during peak hours.

The original interchange was built in the 1970s without access to the tollway for traffic heading west.

“Providing full access opens up more of the area for development and makes it more attractive for businesses locating there,” Armour said.

Plote Construction Inc. in Hoffman Estates was awarded a $35.7 million contract to complete construction of the interchange. In total, the project is estimated at $69 million with the tollway funding half the cost and IDOT, McHenry and Kane counties and Huntley funding the remainder.