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Barrington Road widening project begins soon in South Barrington

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Cook, County, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, Property Taxes, Road construction, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic on March 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Friday, South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie shared this in one of her weekly updates to residents:

“As I have reported in previous emails, the upcoming Barrington Road Widening Project will soon get underway. The first step is tree removal, which will begin along Barrington Road between Algonquin Road (IL 62) and Central Road within the next couple of weeks.”

Since we were unfamiliar with the project, we’ve learned this:

“Improvements to Barrington Road relieve congestion and reduce the risk of crashes.

Updates to Barrington Road provide two additional lanes of traffic in each direction separated by a median between Mundhank Road and Algonquin Road. Ardmore Roderick, selected as the prime consultant, leads Phase II engineering services for this transformative project, ensuring that the design and execution of improvements advance the infrastructure and serve the community’s needs.

As the lead firm, Ardmore Roderick is responsible for preparing plans, specifications, and estimates for the road between Illinois Route 62 and Central Road. A new shared-use path fills a gap in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s regional trail system.

Additional improvements modernize and replace traffic signals throughout the corridor and replace the box culvert structure carrying Barrington Road over Poplar Creek. During the Phase II design process, Ardmore Roderick collaborated with the design team to incorporate a pile-supported embankment that strengthens soil stability, realigned the roadway to improve safety, and incorporated walls at strategic locations.”

A brief  project description can also be found here.

Buckle up.

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U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update | March 26, 2026

Posted in Aunt Blabby, IDOT, Privacy, Public Safety, Road construction, Taxes, Traffic, U.S. Route 14 Underpass, Unions on March 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

When the weather conditions permitted, construction activity continued through the winter months. Between January and March, crews completed the following work:

Preparation for permanent sheeting installations
Permanent sheeting installation is required along the Route 14 corridor to support excavation and construction of the lowered roadway. Following excavation work, concrete formwork will cover the sheets, completing the final retaining wall structure. The contractor has completed pavement removal and surface preparation, positioning the start of this permanent sheet work this spring.

Ongoing construction of the storm sewer pump station
Following substantial completion of the pump pit structure last year, work on the pump station has continued through the winter. Activities included installing stairs and handrails, placing drains, removing concrete formwork and backfilling, applying waterproofing, retaining wall work, installing electrical conduit, and structure preparation and construction of masonry walls. For more information on the pump station, please refer to the December 2025 update.

Water Main and Storm Sewer Installation
Elevation changes associated with the lowering of Route 14 necessitate the rerouting of some existing Village utilities and installation of new facilities. Earlier this year, crews completed storm sewer and water main relocation work on Route 14 near Drury Lane. They also began installing additional storm sewer infrastructure to drain the future underpass, which will connect to the pump station structure.

Route 14 Culvert Construction
As part of the project, Flint Creek will be relocated to maintain gravity flow. Currently crossing under Route 14 just west of the railroad tracks, the creek will be shifted farther west toward Route 59, where it will flow beneath Route 14 through a new storm sewer culvert. Construction of this culvert is underway, with excavation work completed and forming and rebar placement work underway. The culvert’s bottom slab will be formed and poured first, followed by the walls and top of the structure. After completion of this work, a similar structure will be constructed to carry the creek under Route 59.

Continued relocating utilities
Utility relocation work has continued throughout the winter and will progress alongside upcoming construction activities.

Weather and material availability permitting, the contractor plans to begin sheeting and excavation work necessary to begin construction of the railroad bridge this month. As this work progresses, the contractor will refine plans for the remainder of this year.

To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the dedicated project website us14underpass.com or watch for email notifications.

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I-90 ramp connecting to Route 31 to be closed for months for construction upgrades

Posted in Aunt Blabby, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, Shaw Local, Taxes, Traffic on March 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Michelle Meyer | Shaw Local

A ramp connecting the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway to Route 31 in Elgin will be closed for toll plaza improvements starting Sunday and is expected to last through the summer.

Beginning at midnight Sunday, the ramp connecting westbound Interstate 90 to southbound Route 31 will be closed, according to an Illinois Tollway news release. A posted detour will direct traffic on the interstate to the Randall Road interchange, bringing cars back onto eastbound I-90 to access Route 31.

“Tolls will be waived at the Elgin Toll Plaza for traffic following the detour,” officials said in the release.

Crews will be removing the existing barrier walls and equipment and installing new infrastructure. Ramp pavement and shoulder work, along with improvements to electrical, lighting and signage, also are planned, according to the release. All work is weather-dependent.

The construction is part of Illinois Tollway’s 16-year, $15 billion capital program called Move Illinois and its seven-year, $2 billion Bridging the Future capital plan. Improvements are planned for all toll plazas systemwide.

Signs warning about the upcoming closure will be posted this weekend. Updated information will be posted on the Illinois Tollway website’s daily construction alerts.

Maps and construction information are available in the “projects” section on the tollway website.

Article continues here.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON PLAN COMMISSION

Posted in Barrington High School, IDOT, Land Use, Property Taxes, Public Hearing, Real Estate, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 29, 2025| 1 Comment »

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 25-07
SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESS/DESCRIPTION: 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
PIN(s): 13-35-401-068, 13-35-401-069, 13-35-104-006, 13-35-104-001 AND 13-25-104-022
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
LOTS 26 AND 34 IN CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PARTS OF SECTION 26, 27, 34 AND 35, TOWNSHIP 43 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED MARCH 27, 1901 AS DOCUMENT 81144 IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, LYING SOUTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AND LYING NORTHERLY AND EASTERLY OF THE EASTERLY AND NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF HART ROAD EXCEPT THAT PART OF LOTS 26 CONVEYED TO THE COUNTY OF LAKE PER DOCUMENT 7461083 RECORDED JANUARY 31, 2018;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 33 IN SAID CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION EXCEPT ALL THAT PART FALLING WITHIN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND ALSO EXCEPT ALL THAT PART THEREOF FALLING NORTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AND ALSO EXCEPT THAT PART DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS TO WITH: BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 33 AND SAID SOUTHERLY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY RIGHT OF WAY; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHERLY LINE FOR 302.95 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY 531.0 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON ROD; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY FOR 265.1 FEET TO THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 33; HENCE NORTH 448.09 FEET TO THE POINT OFBEGINNING OF SAID EXCEPTION;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 42 IN SAID CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION EXCEPT ALL THAT PART FALLING WITHIN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 14 IN WALNUT GROVE SUBDIVISION BEING A SUBDIVISION OF A PART OF LOT 2 IN THE COUNTY CLERK’S DIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 35 IN TOWNSHIP 43 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AUGUST 14, 1924 AS DOCUMENT 244450, ALL IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HEARING DATE: January 13, 2026
TIME: 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits.
LOCATION OF HEARING: Village Board Room, Village Hall Second Floor, 200 South Hough Street, Barrington, IL 60010
OWNER OF RECORD: Barrington School District 220, 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
APPLICANTS: Sarah Lager, 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010 and Carrie Matlock, DLA Architects, Ltd., Two Pierce Place, Suite 1300, Itasca, IL 60143
REQUEST: The applicant is requesting to amend the existing special use planned development previously granted pursuant to Ordinance Nos 98-2759, 99-2789, 01-2936, 08-3432, 12-3690, 18-4020, and 22-4184 in order to seek approval for several building and site modifications including two building additions, an outdoor classroom addition, renovations of the existing building, new monument and building signage, reconfiguration of the parking area in front of the main entrance, and other site improvements including landscaping. The Petitioner is also seeking approval of the revised layout for the potential future signalized entrance, subject to IDOT approval. The Petitioner is requesting exceptions from: ZO Table 9.12 Maximum Building Height; ZO Section 4.11-19.C Internal Parking Lot Landscaping; ZO Table 4.16-B-1 Permanent Freestanding Signs – General Requirements; ZO Table 4.16-B-4 Permanent Monument Signs – District Specific Requirements; ZO Table 4.16-D-1 Permanent Wall Signs General Requirements; as well as other such zoning permission relief as may be related to this application as discovered in the public hearing process on the subject property legally described above. The subject property is zoned P-L: Public Lands District and is located in Neighborhood 4. The 2021 Comprehensive Plan designates the subject property for Public/Institutional.
Copies of each of the applicable documents are on file and are available upon request. The Village of Barrington is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the Village’s facilities, are requested to contact the Village Clerk’s Office at 200 S. Hough Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010 or call at (847) 304-3400 promptly to allow the Village to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD.
Dan Hogan, Chairperson
PLAN COMMISSION
200 S. Hough Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010
Published in Daily Herald Dec. 29, 2025 (316852)

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$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?

Posted in BOHICA, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Springfield, Taxes on December 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Chicago-area drivers could end up paying $1 billion more in tolls each year as part of a deal state lawmakers admitted was made to get labor union support.

By Patrick Andriesen and Ravi Mishra | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois drivers face up to $1 billion more in tollway fees per year – money the tollways do not need – as part of a deal Springfield leaders admitted they made to get labor unions to back a Chicago-area mass transit bailout.

The Illinois Tollway board could vote as soon as Dec. 18. It would take an extra $329 per year from the typical driver.

Analysts estimated the 45-cent spike will drive the average passenger toll to $1.24, leading to $329 yearly increase for the typical commuter starting in 2027. Commercial truckers could also find themselves paying $1.73 more, or $1,264 a year.

Starting in 2029, tollway fees will automatically rise with inflation with a 4% cap per year applied every two years, regardless of the actual tollway needs. The automatic hikes make it hard for voters to hold lawmakers responsible for the hikes and will swell the tollway coffers.

That kind of automatic hike was applied to the state’s gas tax, leading to a $3.3 billion surplus and record-high taxes thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Illinois’ gas tax were 19 cents before he doubled them and added the inflationary hikes, putting the tax at 48.3 cents per gallon currently.

The Illinois Tollway Authority was initially sold to voters as a temporary way to fund new highways: “Toll free in ’73.” That was intended to be 1973, but with the automatic hikes will likely still be going in 2073.

The tollway hikes were not needed but rather a gift to reward labor unions for supporting the Regional Transportation Authority bailout of Chicago area mass transit. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch said the toll hike was the price Illinoisans had to pay for labor union support.

“It was important to them, if they were going to agree to give up almost $1 billion dollars a year from the road fund, that they can point to something that will help keep working people working and keep roads getting repaired,” Welch told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Read more here.

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U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update

Posted in Aunt Blabby, EJ&E/Canadian National, IDOT, Road construction on December 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Construction activity has continued since Route 14 reopened on its new temporary four-lane roadway at the end of October.

Over the past month, crews have completed the following work:

  • Installed sheeting just east of IL 59 (Hough Street). This sheeting will allow crews to safely excavate the area needed for the new Route 14 culvert, a storm sewer that will carry the relocated Flint Creek beneath the roadway.
  • Substantially completed the pump pit structure for the storm sewer pump station. Most of the surrounding area has been designed to drain naturally away from the Route 14 underpass. However, during rain events, the sloped roadway sections will channel water toward the lowest point of the underpass. Large storm sewers will capture this water and direct it underground to the pump station, located just east of Jiffy Lube. The pump station will collect water in the completed pit, pump it back to the surface level, and release it slowly into the relocated Flint Creek. This entire drainage system has been engineered to ensure positive drainage and has been reviewed and approved by the state, Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Installed foundations for future noise walls around the project perimeter.
  • Continued relocating utilities.

Weather and material availability permitting, the contractor plans to begin excavation and installation of the Route 14 culvert over the next month, along with continued construction of the pump station. As utility relocation progresses, the contractor will refine plans for early next year. Upcoming work is expected to include the following: preparation for retaining walls, additional utility installations, and construction of the railroad bridge structure.

To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the dedicated project website us14underpass.com or watch for email notifications.

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Illinois Route 62 Study November 2025 Project Update

Posted in Algonquin Rd, Aunt Blabby, Cook, County, Deception, FPDCC, FUBAR, IDOT, Land Use, Longmeadow Parkway, Mówimy po polsku, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Roads & Bridges Committee, Roads and Bridges, SNAFU, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic on November 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Input from the public, stakeholders, and local agencies has been considered and incorporated over the course of the study. To date, there have been two (2) public meetings and five (5) Community Advisory Group Meetings. IDOT has also met with representatives from the Village of Barrington Hills, Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) multiple times at key project milestones. Input from these meetings has helped IDOT establish the Purpose and Need, develop the Reasonable Range of Alternatives, identify the Alternatives to be Carried Forward, and select a Preferred Alternative.

The two typical sections included in the Alternatives to be Carried Forward (see September 2023 update) were further refined based on the following design goals and coordination with FPCC, ISGS, USFWS:

  • Minimize land acquisition from FPCC
  • Minimize impacts to threatened and endangered species habitat
  • Improve flood protection of IL 62
  • Maintain existing surface and groundwater conditions that support endangered species habitat
  • Reduce pollutants from stormwater runoff

These refinements have led to a Preferred Alternative that satisfies the Purpose and Need while minimizing impacts to the surrounding environment by incorporating a combination of three typical sections. All three typical sections include four (4) travel lanes, paved shoulders, mountable curbs, closed drainage, and a shared-use path. The Preferred Alternative is divided into two segments due to the differences in land use and the environmental resources as shown in the following figures.

  • Segment 1 – West of Bateman Road and east of Old Sutton Road:
    • This segment (shown in purple in Figure 1) has one typical section as shown in Figure 2.
  • Segment 2 – Between Bateman Road and Old Sutton Road:
    • This segment (shown in orange/yellow in Figure 1) is restricted by the surrounding FPCC property and environmental resources. This segment utilizes two typical sections as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

IDOT is currently developing the preliminary right-of-way needs of the Preferred Alternative and potential impacts to various environmental, community, agricultural, and cultural resources within the study area. IDOT plans to present the Preferred Alternative and summary of impacts to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and resource agencies for concurrence in February 2026. Once concurrence on the Preferred Alternative has been received, a draft of the Environmental Assessment document will be prepared and made available for public review and input.

Figure 1: Preferred Alternative Segments

(Click on images to enlarge)

Figure 2: 10-ft Outside Shoulders with 4:1 Fore Slopes (Segment 1-Purple)

Figure 3: 2-ft Outside Shoulders with Retaining Walls (Segment 2-Orange)

Figure 4: Continuous Bridge over Shallow Groundwater (Segment 2-Yellow)

Read more and comment here.

Related: “Here’s what’s in Illinois’ $50.6B six-year infrastructure plan (10.3.25),” “IDOT seeks public input on roads, rail, and EVs,” “IDOT releases Algonquin Road/Route 62 ‘project update’”

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South Barrington installs welcome signs at some Village borders

Posted in IDOT, South Barrington on October 19, 2025| 3 Comments »

“You may have noticed something new in our community! Our Village has a new way of saying ‘welcome home.’ The modern design celebrates growth while staying true to the community spirit that makes this place so special.”

We have no comment except to wonder how these monuments will fare in a few months when IDOT crews plow snow at their typical speeds. Our experience has been they might view them as something of a challenge.

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U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update | Oct. 17, 2025

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington Area Library, EJ&E/Canadian National, IDOT, Politics, Taxes, TRAC on October 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Temporary Route 14 Closure Update: Progress Continues

Construction has been in full force to complete the temporary four-lane Route 14 roadway and the temporary two-lane Lake Zurich Road. Here’s what’s been happening behind the scenes over the past two weeks:

  • Completion of grading, stone placement and temporary Canadian National Railway (CN) train track construction
  • Shifting of train traffic onto the temporary CN tracks
  • Utility main relocations
  • Continued excavation, grading, compaction and construction of the temporary roadways and sidewalk

What’s still to come?

  • Remaining grading and compaction work
  • Asphalt installation for the temporary rail crossing
  • Completion of both temporary road surfaces and lane line markings

The expected opening is still currently anticipated by the end of October.

Thank you for your continued patience and support of all Barrington businesses during this time.

Below are some aerial shots of the transformation. Things continue to look great from above!”

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Here’s what’s in Illinois’ $50.6B six-year infrastructure plan

Posted in Accidents, Aunt Blabby, IDOT, Public Safety, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, Traffic, Village Government on October 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Jerry Nowicki | Capitol News Illinois

Article Summary

  • Illinois’ latest six-year infrastructure plan includes $50.6 billion in projects, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
  • That includes $32.5 billion in road and bridge projects in the state and local road systems.
  • Another $13.8 billion will go to “multimodal” transportation, such as airports, waterways and rail.
  • About half the funding comes from the federal government, while motor fuel taxes and other related vehicle fees provide most of the state’s portion.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

What it includes:

$4,000,000 – REHABILITATION – PAVEMENTS ILL 62 ALGONQUIN RD KANE/COOK CO LINE TO W OF ILL 68 (DUNDEE RD) BARRINGTON HILLS – Miles = 3.16

$5,630,000 – RECONSTRUCTION – BRIDGES (BRIDGE REPLACEMENT) ILL 62 AT SPRING CREEK 1.4 MI W OF ILL 59

What appears to be missing:

Expanding ILL 62 Algonquin Rd to four (4) lanes in Barrington Hills

Read the full article here.

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