Are construction signs coming to Darrell Road in Island Lake?
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that several improvement options are being considered for a stretch of Darrell Road in the Island Lake area, including intersection realignments and a roundabout.
Lake County Transportation Division officials are eyeing Darrell Road in the Island Lake area for intersection improvements that could boost driver safety.
A two-lane road that runs north-south on the village's east side, Darrell connects routes 176 and 120. Some of it dips into unincorporated Wauconda Township.
The county transportation department maintains the road. Officials are focusing on a roughly milelong stretch between Case and Fisher roads. Those two streets meet Darrell at odd angles, as do Neville and Dowell roads.
"It's sometimes challenging to look left, look right and pull out there safely," said Matt Emde, a project manager with the transportation division.
Case and Fisher are on the east side of Darrell, while Neville and Dowell are on the west side.
"They're old farm roads," Emde said.
Emde and his team are considering realigning the intersections so Case and Neville roads line up across Darrell. Likewise, Fisher and Dowell would be realigned so they line up better.
Island Lake Mayor Charles Amrich said the proposed improvements are "much needed." He expressed relief that plans call for the roads to be realigned, as opposed to the construction of a roundabout.
County officials also are considering adding paths for bicyclists and pedestrians along Darrell. There are no sidewalks there now, Emde said.
Those paths might eventually connect with the ever-developing Grand Illinois Trail, which weaves through northern Illinois and is supposed to link Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River.
"The Grand Illinois Trail comes right through that corridor," Emde said.
For that part of the project, Emde's team will work with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which manages the 500-mile trail.
Officials expect to have the Darrell Road project designed in 2017 and constructed in 2019.
The preliminary cost estimate for the project is $10.75 million. Emde hopes to get some federal funding for the work.
An open house for the project is scheduled for March 9 at Wauconda Township headquarters, 505 W. Bonner Road. The second such public meeting on the plan, it will run from 5 to 7 p.m.
Additionally, information about the project can be found on the transportation division's website, lakecountyil.gov/transportation.