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Elk Grove completes improvements on Biesterfield Road

On Thursday, July 29, the Village of Elk Grove held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the multiuse path and pedestrian improvements along Biesterfield Road, from Michigan Lane to David Lane, which serve to further advance usability and safety for residents and visitors.

Biesterfield Road is a major community thoroughfare, which provides access through the center of Elk Grove Village, as well as to shopping centers, AMITA hospital, and numerous educational and government facilities.

The improvements include the installation of a shared bicycle/pedestrian path and sidewalk widening in heavily trafficked pedestrian areas.

State Rep. Michelle Mussman assisted the village in securing a $750,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for the bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Biesterfield Road as part of the 2019 State Capital Bill.

"Pedestrian and bicycle safety is a top priority for communities in Illinois, and part of my work in Springfield is to ensure the state budget supports that priority," Mussman said.

"These improvements will make it easier and, more importantly, safer for both local and regional residents traveling along Biesterfield Road."

The village was also awarded $250,250 from the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways through the Invest in Cook grant program to support this project. Invest in Cook supports transportation improvements sponsored by local and regional governments that align with the Connecting Cook County Long Range Transportation Plan.

"I am a strong believer in making roadways more accessible for bicycles and pedestrians," said Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison. "Cook County's Long Range Transportation Plan is a tool that allows us to support these types of improvements in local communities."

These improvements to Biesterfield Road have filled an important gap in the bicycle route network. The new eight-foot, multiuse path provides a connection for cyclists west of Meacham to the overpass at Interstate 290/Illinois Route 53, also known as the Community Bridge.

Prior to this improvement, the bicycle route crossed Meacham Road at an unsignalized intersection north of Biesterfield Road.

"We are very grateful for the continued support from State Rep. Michelle Mussman and Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison in the village's efforts to enhance bicycle and pedestrian access," said Mayor Craig Johnson.

"This project exemplifies how state and local governments can partner to improve the safety and usability of roadways that serve our local schools and connect to regional destinations. We would not have been able to complete these improvements without Rep. Mussman's assistance in securing the DCEO grant and the grant award from Cook County."

Improvements to Biesterfield Road also include expanded six-foot sidewalks to provide additional capacity for the heavily traveled area near Adolph Link Elementary School. The village worked with the school and surveyed area parents to identify where sidewalk widening was needed.

Additionally, signalized intersections along this section of Biesterfield Road have been improved to include countdown signal heads, push buttons, ADA ramps and crosswalks for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and children going to and from school.

The total cost of the Biesterfield Road improvement project was $1.2 million. This project is a part of the village's Elk Grove 2025, a long-range infrastructure plan that includes more than $125 million investment back into the community.

The completion of the improvements along Biesterfield Road brings the village closer to achieving the Elk Grove 2025 goal of serving the community into the next generation and beyond.

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