Lake County approves engineering contract to redesign Cedar Lake Road corridor, including resurfacing and a multiuse path study

The Lake County Division of Transportation won committee approval on Sept. 3 to hire V3 Companies to provide engineering services for improvements on Cedar Lake Road between Illinois Route 60 and Illinois Route 120.

Shane Schneider, director of transportation and county engineer, described three primary components of the project: resurfacing the southern segment that needs near‑term work; a full intersection study at Town Line Road and Cedar Lake Road to determine whether a traffic signal, roundabout or other improvement is appropriate; and a new non‑motorized, multiuse path along the corridor to connect Nippersink Forest Preserve to downtown Round Lake and other north‑south connections.

Why it matters: The corridor work combines needed pavement rehabilitation with active‑transportation improvements and intersection safety analysis. County staff said resurfacing and the multiuse path could be packaged in a first construction contract, with a second contract covering intersection improvements and the northern corridor segment; construction is expected in phases over the next several years.

Key points from the presentation

- Contract and funding: The joint resolution authorized V3 Companies (Woodridge, Ill.) to provide professional engineering services at a maximum cost of $3,615,705 and appropriated $4,340,000 of county option motor fuel tax funds for the design work.

- Project elements and sequencing: Schneider said the plan is to expedite resurfacing of the south half (Town Line south to IL‑60) within 1–2 years and to analyze alignment and design choices for the multiuse path and the northern realignment near downtown Round Lake. The intersection study at Town Line and Cedar Lake Road will evaluate turning lanes, upgraded signals or possible roundabout solutions; underground utilities may constrain options.

- Multiuse path considerations: Committee members asked whether the path would be east or west of the roadway; Schneider said the side is not yet determined and will be part of the engineering analysis. A committee member noted most users live east of the road, but staff said both sides will be studied and alignment choices will consider connectivity to nearby neighborhoods and the forest preserve.

Committee action

The committee approved the agreement and appropriation; the motion carried.

Ending

Schneider said the county will proceed with phased design and return with recommended contract sequencing for construction and funding as the engineering work concludes.