Randall Road project gets big boost from federal grant

The McHenry County Division of Transportation has received a $20 million federal grant for the Randall Road project.

The grant announcement Wednesday came less than 24 hours after the McHenry County Board approved the county's fiscal year 2024 budget and a $41 million appropriation for the Randall Road upgrades.

The federal money was granted by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

"It's one piece of the funding pie," said Scott Hennings, assistant director of transportation at the county, adding that the project has received other grants previously.

The project has received a total of $37.9 million in federal funds, including the latest contribution, according to a county news release.

The grant frees up $20 million to be used on other projects, Hennings said.

The completed first phase of the Randall Road project added lanes.

Work completed two years ago on the first phase of the Randall Road project, which added lanes, "upgraded flow" at the intersection of Randall and Algonquin roads in Lake in the Hills and added signals at two intersections, as well as a pedestrian underpass and paved walkways, the news release said.

The second phase stretches from Ackman Road in Crystal Lake to Acorn Drive and Polaris Lane in Lake in the Hills. Work is scheduled to begin in the spring and will widen the road, construct multiuse paths, improve railways and provide sidewalk accommodations, among other things, according to the news release.