May 10, 2013
Who should I contact if I have a question or an issue? The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) manages the Willow Road Redevelopment project. Any questions or concerns can be e-mailed to their construction team at brahe@v3co.com, phoned into the field office at 847-784-8738 or directed to their web page at http://www.dot.il.gov/WillowRoad/index.html
Why are there traffic barriers and lanes closed when very little work is going on? With each phase of construction, traffic barriers are used to provide a safe work zone. The current configuration is for the “pre-stage” work, which includes tree removal, median removal, the installation of temporary pavement on the south side of the road, and utility relocation. Once the pre-stage work is complete, the next phase of the project can start. In order to avoid confusion, due to frequent changes in lane configurations, these are not set up or taken down on a day-to-day basis but rather with each new phase of the project.
Why is there a Wagner Road detour in place? This detour is not part of the Willow Road project but is associated with a Safe Routes to School project. Northfield received funding to improve school access, and the contractor will be working to enclose a culvert on Wagner Road to make it safer for children walking to Middlefork School and the Park District facilities. Northbound Wagner Road will be closed between Willow and Old Willow for the next two weeks.
What is the best way to stay informed on construction activity? For live traffic updates, detailed maps of the project design, and up-to-date information on the construction activity, follow the progress on the Willow Road web page http://northfieldwillowroad.blogspot.com/ ; the IDOT web page www.dot.il.gov/willow road/index.html ; Facebook - Willow Road Construction Project; Twitter - @willowroadcp; Instagram- willowroadcp; and e-news at www.northfieldil.org
How long will the project take? The roadway work is expected to take place over two construction seasons and be completed by the end of 2014. The final restoration work and plantings are planned for the spring of 2015.
Will the sidewalks be open during construction? Sidewalks will be available during construction but not in the areas adjacent to construction. In Phase I, the south side will be available; in Phase II, the north side will be available; and in Phase III both sides will be open.
Are drawings available to show what the final roadway will look like? You can view the overall project design and landscape plans by clicking the links provide on the right-hand side at http://northfieldwillowroad.blogspot.com/. If you have detailed construction questions or want to know how the project may impact a particular property, contact IDOT at brahe@v3co.com.
Can the timing of the traffic lights be adjusted to allow traffic to flow more smoothly during construction? Yes. IDOT will evaluate the intersections during each phase of construction and, when possible, will adjust the signal times to mitigate traffic backups. Nonetheless, delays are anticipated throughout construction.
