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U.S. Route 14 Underpass Update

Posted in Aunt Blabby, EJ&E/Canadian National, IDOT, Public Safety, Real Estate, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, U.S. Route 14 Underpass on May 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

 

Construction activity has ramped back up over the past month, with crews completing the following work:

  • Completed the walls and bottom of the Route 14 culvert, a storm sewer that will carry the relocated Flint Creek beneath the roadway. Formed and poured on-site, the next step is to form the top slab (deck) of the culvert. Once complete and cured, the structure can be backfilled.
  • Began work on the railroad bridge. Crews completed installation of sheeting for the north bridge abutment (the structural element on each end of a bridge) and began excavation within the sheeting area. Structural formwork will be placed as excavation continues. Once complete, the abutment will be poured in concrete. Similar operations will begin for the center bridge pier and the south bridge abutment over the coming months.
  • Made substantial progress on the storm sewer pump station building, including brick and roof truss installation. 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, and slowly release it 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 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Continued relocation of utilities.

Weather permitting, the contractor plans to begin excavation and installation of a new storm sewer on Drury Lane over the next month, along with continued 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.

Posted May 6, 2026

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How much is the new Illinois gas tax hike?

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Clown Car, Commodius Maximus, Cost of Living, Deception, Ethics, Fat Bastard, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Taxes, Unions on May 7, 2026| 1 Comment »

On July 1 the state tax will hit almost 50 cents a gallon. Lawmakers made yearly automatic.

By Dylan Sharkey | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois drivers will see another gas tax increase July 1.

The state tax will rise to 49.6 cents per gallon because of the automatic annual inflation increase built into the 2019 “Rebuild Illinois” infrastructure program signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

That means Illinois drivers will continue paying among the highest gas taxes in the country. Indiana and Georgia gave residents a gas tax holiday from high prices because of the war in Iran.

The average price of a gallon of gas in Illinois was $4.986 on May 6, up from about $3.40 a year ago, according to the AAA.

When Pritzker doubled the state gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents in 2019, lawmakers also ensured Illinoisans would face automatic inflation-linked increases every year without another recorded vote.

Once federal, state and local taxes are combined, many Illinois drivers pay more than 85 cents per gallon in taxes alone at the pump. Only California and Michigan rival Illinois for the highest total gas taxes in the country.

Article continues here.

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Barry Fript Memorial Horse Show Saturday at Barrington Hills Park District

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Park District, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Equestrian Commission, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, FRVPC, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Lighting Ordinance, Overhead, Property Taxes, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Unions, VBHPD on May 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Click here for info including costs.

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IDOT Announces Phase I study of Illinois 68 at Bateman Road

Posted in Accidents, Aunt Blabby, IDOT, Taxes on April 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Illinois Department of Transportation is conducting preliminary engineering and environmental studies (Phase I) for the improvement of Illinois 68 at Bateman Road in the village of Barrington Hills, Cook County.  The Phase I studies will evaluate alternatives to improve operation and safety at the intersection and examine impacts the final proposed improvement could have on the community and the environment. This improvement is not included in IDOT’s current Proposed Highway Improvement Program.  However, this project will be included in the department’s priorities for future funding consideration among similar improvement needs throughout the region.

This website has been created to provide the public with educational information, materials, and updates in relation to the Illinois 68 at Bateman Road study. The goal is to keep the public informed about the project development process and provide opportunities for the public to express their needs and concerns.

Overview and Scope

Based on recorded crash data IDOT has initiated a Phase I study of the intersection of Illinois 68 at Bateman Road. This study will evaluate various intersection alternatives. As the study progresses there will be public involvement opportunities for stakeholders to provide input on the alternatives. The intent of the Phase I study is to develop a preferred alternative that can reduce crashes at this location and minimize impacts to the existing infrastructure and environment. The study limits include the Illinois 68 at Bateman intersection and each leg of the intersection excluding driveways, except where necessary.

If you have any input or questions please contact Lori Brown, project manager, at (847) 705-4477 or by e-mail at IL68atBateman@primeraeng.com

Sources: IDOT website via Village Facebook post

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, ePacket Agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Finance Committee, Financial Reports, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Little Duck Butt, Minutes, OMA, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, The Land We Love Run, Tree Preservation Ordinance, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board on April 27, 2026| 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:

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

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Downtown Barrington Streetscape Project Update

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Goat Rodeo, Road construction, Traffic on April 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Demolition started this week on the east side of South Cook Street, north and south of Station Street. Demo work will continue through the rest of this week, and concrete forms for the new sidewalks and planter boxes will be set beginning next week (April 13). Installation of new sidewalks in Phase 1 is tentatively scheduled for the week of April 20. You may see the new sidewalk being poured back sooner, weather depending.

 

Phase 2 demolition work is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of April 27. Phase 2 includes the northwest corner of Cook and Station streets, the west side of Cook Street, south of Station Street, and the northwest section of Station Street alongside Nekter. The project manager will be around to coordinate with impacted businesses in advance of this work. 

 

The section of sidewalk on the south side of East Station Street (past the Barrington Flower Shop) will be moved from Phase 4 to Phase 1. 

 

The project phasing plan can be found here.

 

All impacted businesses and restaurants remain open! Your continued support during construction makes a big difference to our community.

 

To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the construction updates page on the Village’s website.

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Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Financial Reports, Heritage and Environs Committee, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Legal Expenses, Lennie, Minutes, One Barrington Hills, Overhead, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club Commission, Roads & Bridges Committee, Save 5 Acres, Simple Minds, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board on March 30, 2026| 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 Issuance of Notice of Award for the 2026 Road Program Project by the Village of Barrington Hills, Illinois Resolution 26 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance Approving a Final Plat of Subdivision For the Acorn Corner Subdivision – 11 & 12 Rock Ridge Road Ordinance 26 –
  • [Vote] Resolution of the Village of Barrington Hills in Support of Municipal Housing Authority Resolution 26 –
  • Register Now: Land We Love Run 5k/10k Celebrating America250 on June 28 2026

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

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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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