Schaumburg considering roundabout at Springinsguth, Bode roads

Schaumburg's transportation committee this week discussed converting the three-way intersection at Springinsguth and Bode roads into a roundabout, but delayed a final recommendation until next month.

What committee members want to know first is whether the time it would take to design a roundabout would imperil grant funding that's already been secured to resurface the roadways around the traditional intersection.

Schaumburg Transportation Director Karyn Robles said designing a roundabout could take two to three years. The question is whether to delay the resurfacing that long, wait on a roundabout until the intersection needs work again in 10 to 15 years, or simply plan to keep a traffic signal there indefinitely.

The village has completed two roundabouts on Plum Grove Road in recent years, one at the intersection of Remington Road and the other at State Parkway. It has also completed the design for a third at the intersection of American Lane and National Parkway, which is awaiting funding.

Both Robles and Schaumburg Trustee Brian Bieschke, who chairs the transportation committee, said the village's experience with its two existing roundabouts has been positive.

"I think the village is supportive of roundabouts when studies indicate them to be the best option," Bieschke said.

That would be the case with a roundabout at Springinsguth and Bode, village staff said, but money and timing are other factors to be taken into account.

To complete resurfacing and related improvements at the intersection now would cost $880,000, of which the village's share would be 25%.

The estimated cost of building a roundabout is about $1.2 million, and federal funding would not be guaranteed under so significant a change of scope for the project.

A third option, which staff is recommending, is to carry on with the planned resurfacing and consider a roundabout the next time the intersection is due for a significant improvement.