Buffalo Grove aims to improve bicycle, pedestrian access on Dundee Road

Buffalo Grove is finalizing concepts for a $600,000 plan to improve pedestrian access, encourage bicycle use and reduce unnecessary vehicle trips along the Dundee Road corridor.

Village Manager Dane Bragg told village trustees this week that his staff members are preparing concepts for presentation to the public at a future open house forum.

The Dundee Road Improvement Project spans the entire length of the road within the village. It's funded through a federal $507,369 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant, with the village providing a 20 percent match.

Bicycle access will be a key component of the work, said Anthony Bryant, senior civil engineer with the firm Burns & McDonnell.

Although Dundee Road is part of the village's path system, the width of the path is inadequate and filled with gaps. At some points, the width is 8 feet, at others about 5 feet, Bryant said. In some spots, the path is in poor condition, creating an eyesore, he said.

Highlights of the project will include filling in the gaps of the existing sidewalk, improving substandard sections, upgrading pedestrian crossing signals and providing streetscape improvements.

Construction is anticipated to start in March.

Breaking down the project costs, Bryant said filling in sidewalk gaps will cost $50,000, with $100,000 to improve substandard sections of sidewalk and right-of-way; $350,000 to implement the village's bike path plan by providing a minimum width of eight feet; $45,600 to improve the streetscape with such items as new trash cans and benches, as well as shrubs and brick pavers; and $40,000 to upgrade crossing signals, including the installation of countdown signals.