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Archive for the ‘Road construction’ Category

Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Agendas, Appointments, Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Board of Health, Building Department, Dinky, Financial Reports, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board on April 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Corrective Asphalt Materials LLC (CAM) For Pavement Rejuvenation (Blabby Lift) Application Resolution 25 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance Updating the Village’s Regulations Concerning Trespass to Land in Section 8-2-23 of the Village Code Ordinance 25 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance Updating the Village Fee and Penalties Schedule and Amending the Village Code to Eliminate Inconsistent or Duplicative Fees and Penalties Related to Building, Licenses and Permit Matters Ordinance 25 –
  • [Vote] Resolution Approving the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Cuba Township Road District Resolution 25 –
  • [Vote] Resolution Approving the Execution of an Employee Leasing Agreement with MGT Impact Solutions, LLC Resolution 25 –
  • [Vote] Plan Commission Appointments
  • [Vote] Board of Health Appointments
  • [Vote] Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment
  • Registration Open for The Land We Love Run 5K/10K + 2-Mile Walk on Sunday, June 29, 2025: vbhil.gov/race

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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

Posted in EJ&E/Canadian National, Road construction, Traffic on April 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

This vital infrastructure improvement project will enhance traffic flow and safety in our community. Below are the latest updates:

  • Grading Work: Topsoil removal and grading for the temporary U.S. 14 roadway between Elm Road and U.S. 14 is planned to start this week. While we have worked with the contractor to delay roadway impacts to this point, to ensure a safe construction zone for all, this work necessitates the closure of Willow Road starting on Monday, April 21. 
  • Fence Relocation and Tree Removals: Over the past month, crews have been working to complete fence removals and relocations throughout the project area. Tree removals are complete and removal of these downed trees from the project area is scheduled for completion over the next week.
  • Demolition and Excavation: Interior demolition of the strip mall at 557 N. Hough St., is underway, and exterior building demolition and excavation for the new pump station at 117 E. Northwest Hwy. (just east of Jiffy Lube) will begin. These are key steps in moving the project forward.
  • Utility Relocations: AT&T and Comcast have coordinated substantial utility relocation work on Hough Street just south of Route 14. Nicor has now initiated their relocations in this area, and ComEd has initiated relocation work along Route 14. Relocation schedules continue to be coordinated between various utilities within the project area. In addition to this private utility work, the project contractor is scheduled to initiate Village watermain relocation work in the vicinity of Willow Road within the next few weeks.
  • Culvert Installation: Crews will also begin installing a culvert on the south side of the bridge on Elm Road, which will allow for the creation of a temporary roadway over Flint Creek. This installation will require minimal work on the north side of Elm Road to temporarily reroute water around the construction zone, while the majority of work will take place from Route 14. The project team will target dry weather conditions to keep the installation process efficient.
  • Hough Street Culvert: A significant milestone in the project will be the installation of a new culvert to carry Flint Creek under Hough Street. While the start date for this work is still dependent on the completion of utility relocations, utility designs and permits are in progress. ComEd is working to coordinate the scope and schedule of their work in this area and, following the solidification of that work, the project team will begin scheduling this culvert installation work.

As the project progresses, the Village will continue to share monthly project update emails to provide information and timelines on completed and anticipated work. Updates will be utilized to convey special construction or traffic alert information. You are always encouraged to stay informed throughout the project by visiting the website.

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Illinois drivers face some of the nation’s highest costs, expected to grow

Posted in Economy, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Road construction, Taxes, Topics Of Interest on April 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Fears have grown that more efficient cars mean less money for Illinois to fund roads. But the state already collects higher revenues than ever while burdening drivers with high taxes and fees. | Photo by Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via AP

By Ravi Mishra | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois is collecting more money from gas taxes and driving fees than ever, but concerns are growing about electric cars and fuel efficiency limiting funds for roads and bridges.

Illinois has an efficiency problem rather than a funding problem – and it’s not fuel efficiency that’s the problem. According to the latest report from the Reason Foundation, Illinois ranked 45th in the nation in capital and bridge disbursements, which are the costs of building new roads and bridges and widening existing ones. This ranking shows inefficiencies in how the state allocates funds as it spends $98,000 per lane-mile while it’s expected to spend $68,000 based on factors such as urbanization.

Burdening drivers to cover costs for ballooning inefficient budgets is nothing new for Illinois. Below is an overview of fees and taxes Illinoisans face for owning and operating a vehicle.

Gas taxes

In 2019, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubled the per-gallon gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents. Since then, it has grown to 47 cents per gallon. Illinois is also one of the few states to apply sales taxes to gas after the motor fuel tax is charged, essentially taxing drivers on the taxes they are paying.

As a result, Illinois drivers pay the second-highest combined state, federal and local gas taxes in the country, only behind California. About 85 cents of every gallon of gas goes to these taxes, nearly double what some of Illinois’ Midwest neighbors, such as Missouri, charge.  The average Illinois driver pays $323 annually in state gas taxes alone.

Read on here.

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Appointments, Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Barbarian Migrants in Busses at the Gate, Building Department, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dinky, Dumb and Dumber, Elections, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Financial Reports, Illinois State Board of Elections, Land Use, Minutes, Pension Funding, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Riding Club Commission, Road construction, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board on March 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:00 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

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U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update

Posted in Barrington Area Library, Community Alerts, EJ&E/Canadian National, Goat Rodeo, METRA, Road construction, Traffic on March 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Northbound Hough Street just before the CN/EJ&E crossing.

“This vital infrastructure improvement project will enhance traffic flow and safety in our community. Below are the latest updates:

  • Construction Signage: Earlier this week, “Road Work Ahead” signage was placed around the project area before the commencement of work this upcoming week.
  • Fence Relocation and Tree Removals: Over the next few weeks, crews are scheduled to begin relocating the fence along Route 14 adjacent to Jewel Park and complete final tree removals. Fence work is expected to take 1-2 weeks and will move the existing wood fence to the south edge of the Elm Road right-of-way. This will help separate the neighborhood from the construction area. While tree removals are largely complete, final removals will take place this month within the railroad right-of-way and a few residential parcels where access was not previously secured.
  • Demolition and Excavation: Following the initiation of fence and tree work, demolition of the strip mall at 557 N. Hough St., and excavation for the new pump station at 117 E. Northwest Hwy. (just east of Jiffy Lube) will begin. These are key steps in moving the project forward.
  • Utility Relocations: Comcast’s utility work is underway near the intersection of Route 14 and Hough Street. Nicor and AT&T will be completing utility relocation work on Hough Street just south of Route 14 starting this month. Relocation schedules are still being finalized with other utilities and along the Route 14 corridor.
  • Culvert Installation: Crews will also begin installing a culvert on the south side of the bridge on Elm Road, which will allow for the creation of a temporary roadway over Flint Creek. This installation will require minimal work on the north side of Elm Road to temporarily reroute water around the construction zone, while the majority of work will take place from Route 14. The project team will target dry weather conditions to keep the installation process efficient.
  • Hough Street Culvert: A significant milestone in the project will be the installation of a new culvert to carry Flint Creek under Hough Street. While the start date for this work is still dependent on the completion of utility relocations, utility designs and permits are in progress, and the project team is actively working to expedite the timeline to allow this work to begin this spring.

As the project progresses, the Village of Barrington plans to share monthly project update emails to provide information and timelines on completed and anticipated work. Updates will be utilized to convey special construction or traffic alert information. You are always encouraged to stay informed throughout the project by visiting the website.”

– Posted March 7, 2025

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Roads & Bridges Committee meets today

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Elections, Entertainment, FUBAR, Illinois State Board of Elections, Mac's Property Management, One Barrington Hills, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club Commission, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, TMI, Traffic, Village Clerk, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President on March 6, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Village Roads & Bridges Committee meets this afternoon at 4 PM. Some of the topics on the agenda include:

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.

*Note the Village Engineer’s memo recommending seasonal road closure is addressed to the Village President with copies to the Director of Administration and Village Clerk, but not the Roads & Bridges Chair. Additionally, the Road Program 2025 Recommendation memo is addressed to the Director of Administration only. Ouch.

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Pedestrian gate installation set for next month at railroad crossing in Barrington following death of student

Posted in EJ&E/Canadian National, METRA, Road construction, Traffic on February 11, 2025| 1 Comment »

Marin Lacson, 17, of Barrington, (inset) died on January 25, 2024, after she was hit by a Metra train while walking to Barrington High School where she was in her junior year. | Background Photo: Nick Rusin; Inset: Provided

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Crews are set to begin installation of pedestrian gates next month at a railroad crossing in Barrington near where a 17-year-old girl was killed by a train while walking to Barrington High School.

The Canadian National Railway (CN) announced last year that it was going to install pedestrian gates at the Main Street crossing just east of Barrington High School in Barrington.

Construction was delayed due to material backorders but the necessary materials were expected to arrive early this year.

The Village of Barrington recently said that they received preliminary confirmation that most of the construction will take place between March 21 and March 30, coinciding with District 220’s spring break.

The timing is intended to minimize traffic disruptions. CN will provide more details and confirm the schedule as it gets closer to construction.

The village said it is also reviewing statements of qualifications from engineering firms for the preliminary design of a pedestrian underpass at Main Street and the CN tracks.

“This work is particularly important as it connects the Village Center and Barrington High School, and is a crossing used daily by many students,” the village said.

More here.

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Kennedy Expressway’s reversible express lanes expected to reopen Monday morning: IDOT

Posted in IDOT, Road construction, SNAFU, Traffic on January 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Ethan Illers | WGN Chicago

CHICAGO – The reversible express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway are expected to reopen Monday morning.

The Illinois Department of Transportation said the express lanes are scheduled to reopen and resume normal operations by 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, weather permitting, just in time for rush hour.

The new lanes feature several reversible gates over a seven-and-a-half-mile stretch of roadway, which can flip from inbound to outbound depending on the volume of traffic.

The express lanes were originally set to reopen in December, but more testing was required on the reversible gates, causing the opening to be delayed until Monday.

The overall Kennedy rehabilitation project, from the Edens Expressway junction to Ohio Street, is taking place over three construction seasons. The inbound Kennedy was completed in 2023, with the outbound lanes starting next spring and taking one full construction season to complete.

More here.

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Polls open tomorrow at 6AM

Posted in Cook, County, District 220 referendum, Economy, Ethics, Kane, Lake, McHenry, OP/Ed, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Resident Spotlights, Road construction, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions on November 4, 2024| 1 Comment »

Please vote for Representative Martin McLaughlin!

Early voting has ended at this hour at most locations.  Tomorrow, many more locations will be open for Election Day from 6AM to 7PM.

Click on your county below to find your polling location:

Or, you can also go to, “Poling Place Lookup,” to find your polling place location.

By now it should come as no surprise that Martin McLaughlin has our wholehearted endorsement and vote because he has earned it. Best of luck tomorrow.

Related: “Chicago Tribune endorses Martin McLaughlin,” “Daily Herald Endorsement: McLaughlin for Illinois House Dist. 52”

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“Barrington’s News You Can Use” by Karen Darch

Posted in Barrington Area Library, DARCHED, IDOT, Politics, Road construction, Topics Of Interest, Traffic on October 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Village of Barrington President Karen Darch

Exciting Infrastructure Milestones Ahead: Route 14 Underpass, Park Avenue Plaza & More!

“I am thrilled to share some exciting updates about key infrastructure projects that will significantly enhance our Village and its future.

Route 14 Underpass Project
Our long-anticipated Route 14 underpass project has taken a great leap forward! We’ve reached an important milestone as the state has set the letting date for Nov. 8, 2024, when contractor bids will be opened. It marks a critical step in enhancing safety and improving traffic flow in our community. The positive impact of this project will benefit emergency responders, pedestrians and drivers alike.

Park Avenue Plaza Design & Paver Enhancements
The Village is finalizing design plans for Park Avenue between Cook Street and Station Street to transform the upper roadway and parking into a vibrant gathering space for families and visitors. This new plaza will feature paved and turf areas thoughtfully designed to accommodate daily passive use and special events. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to support neighboring businesses by incorporating space for outdoor dining patios, creating an inviting atmosphere under twinkling string lights. Once completed, this project will provide an additional amenity for our residents and the business community to enjoy.

In tandem with the Park Avenue project, the Village has initiated paver removals with our Public Works team as part of a broader effort to enhance the streetscape in the Village Center. Next year, we plan to begin construction to replace the existing pavers, incorporating large, raised planter beds and clay brick accents. These improvements are specifically designed to address long-term maintenance concerns while enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality of the downtown area. Materials and design selections for this project will coordinate with those of Park Avenue, creating a cohesive and beautiful public space.

Infrastructure improvements have always been a top priority for our Village, and we’re excited to see these major projects come to fruition. These efforts are designed to not only improve safety and accessibility but also to enhance the beauty and functionality of core parts of our community, ensuring they serve our residents, businesses and visitors for years to come.

Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with these transformative projects, shaping a safer and more vibrant future for our Village.”

Karen Darch
Village President

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