Suburbs' Longmeadow Parkway deals with Kane up for vote
Algonquin and Carpentersville may be taking another step forward in the direction of the Longmeadow Parkway toll road.
Both village boards will vote Tuesday on individual agreements with Kane County, which outline the agencies' responsibilities for the proposed $135 million corridor project.
"This project has been a cooperative effort for over 20 years," Algonquin Village Manager Tim Schloneger said. "This is just finalizing a vision that Kane County and the village had to open up transportation access to the region."
Algonquin and Carpentersville are two of nine local communities that have formally supported the project.
If approved, one agreement with Algonquin would grant Kane County jurisdiction over Longmeadow Parkway from Randall Road to just east of White Chapel Lane - a portion of the corridor previously built by the village in anticipation of the long-term project, said Assistant Village Manager Mike Kumbera.
The deals also outline potential future property development and break down the ongoing roadway maintenance responsibilities between the county and Algonquin, Schloneger said. Kane County will be in charge of long-term improvements to Longmeadow Parkway, and the village will take care of ongoing maintenance and beautification aspects of the corridor.
"This is a strategic gateway into the village, so we want to be assured that it represents Algonquin's standards for aesthetics and landscaping," Schloneger said.
As per the agreement with Carpentersville, the county would be responsible for all infrastructure changes made as a result of the parkway, according to village documents. Additionally, the county agreed to include in the design plans some stormwater reconstruction, landscaping, and a bike path along Route 25 from Silverstone Drive to Cherokee Road - at no cost to the village.
The county board will vote this month on a $6.6 million contract with Plote Construction for the first section of the project, from the Huntley and Boyer roads intersection to west of Randall Road. Work is expected to begin this spring.
Bidding for the construction of the second portion of the project, from Randall Road to east of White Chapel Lane, is expected to begin this summer.
The proposed four-lane, 5.6-mile road, extending from Huntley Road in Dundee Township to Route 62 in Barrington Hills, will pass through Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills. It will also include a bridge over the Fox River.
"When we do villagewide community surveys, the No. 1 concern is regional transportation," Schloneger said. "This project is a key to improving that."