Waukegan to add traffic signal at Sunset and Northern; county covers construction, city to pay maintenance

The City of Waukegan Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on June 16 approved Amendment No. 3 to the master agreement with Lake County to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Northern Avenue.

Under the amendment described to the committee, Lake County will replace the current four-way stop with a traffic signal and pay 100% of engineering and construction costs. The county requested that the City of Waukegan assume the city's share of future maintenance and energy costs for the signal.

Public Works staff summarized the amendment to the committee: "This amendment is to incorporate the traffic signalization at the 4 way stop at the intersection of Sunset And Northern. The county will replace the current signals with new signals and pay a 100% of the engineering and construction costs, but is requesting the city pay its share of maintenance, future costs, and energy costs," staff said during the presentation.

At least one committee member pointed out an inconsistency in the amendment language. "It says it's replacing a current signal, but there isn't a signal there, is there?" Alderman Florian asked. Staff confirmed the change will install a traffic signal at the current stop-sign-controlled intersection.

The committee voted in favor on a roll call that recorded five ayes: Alderman Florian, Alderman Martinez, Alderman Bowden, Alderman Newsom and Alderman Downerwer. The motion passed with no recorded nays.

The amendment assigns construction costs to Lake County and places on the city the continuing obligation to maintain and pay energy costs for the new signal. The resolution text and the county agreement should be consulted for details on maintenance cost-sharing and timing; the committee record did not include a maintenance-cost estimate.

The committee took no further amendments or additional conditions on the motion.