Special offer

The Headache Known as Willow Road Reconstruction

By
Real Estate Agent with @Properties

The Headache Known as Willow Road Reconstruction


I've cursed almost every time I've driven along Willow Road through Northfield - the dreaded stretch between Happ Road and Sunset Ridge Road.  Unless you're driving at 2 am, you will have bumper-to-bumper traffic to contend with.  Now I can start cursing because this tight spot will finally be widened - meaning a year and a half of . . . more traffic.

Truthfully - I am thrilled that it has finally been resolved.  Northfield is lovely village with large Willow Road traffic Northfieldlots and a country-like feel that has a major artery cutting it in half.  The problem has always been that the "major artery" was only one lane in each direction.  With the growth of The Glen and a large shopping complex at Waukegan and Willow, the traffic was increased many fold.  Northfield valiantly fought the fight to work out other options (keeping one lane in each direction but adding turn lanes was one example) but ultimately, the march of progress took its toll.  

The project is slated to begin right after Easter and has a tentative completion date of October 2014 with a projected cost of $27 million.  The changes will include two lanes in each direction,  plus sidewalks, medians, drainage, and some aesthetic improvements.

Northfield's Village Manager, Stacy Sigman stresses to residents and others affected by the construction, that the project is not under the control of Northfield.  IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) is handling the entire construction project.  Any feedback, complaints, or comments should be made directly to IDOT.

And that will be much easier thanks to the formation of a "construction blog" that the Village did put together.  Sigman said "We put together a designed site with links to everything."  It will provide detailed information about the progress of construction, issues pedestrians should watch out for, and will also have links to Twitter, Facebook and Instragram and IDOT. There will also be detailed renderings of the details on the project.

The construction blog can be found at:  www.northfieldwillowroad.blogspot.com.

Happy driving - and remember - contact IDOT, not the Village of Northfield, with any complaints or thoughts.
Willow Road Northfield


View Willow Road Construction in a larger map

Posted by

(847) 977-6024
CALL OR TEXT

Email Me
About Me
My Blog

     

Winnetka and North Shore Real Estate Broker
Specializing in homes for sale in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Northbrook, and Evanston.

Comments (2)

John G. Johnston
John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO
An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Margaret  We have a much smaller congested intersection that belongs to the state.  The state recently held a meeting at our town hall to discuss the problem.  I'm a town trustee and listen to citizens frequently talking about their idea how to fix the problem...  Of course, we have nothing to say or do with the project!  Suffer with a smile!

Mar 28, 2013 12:01 PM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

John - I guess it's the same everywhere!  

 

Apr 01, 2013 02:33 AM