Patch Picks: Summer Construction Hot Spots

With spring come the bulldozers, earthmovers and dump trucks that signal the start of contruction season. Grab your GPS, your bike or a train schedule and find an alternate route while these five much needed (and much dreaded) projects are completed.

Lake Cook Road

Congestion will continue on the north side of town, as the Cook County Highway Department reconstructs this thoroughfare between Wilmot and Pfingsten roads. The road will eventually widen to six lanes in some areas, water mains will be relocated, and traffic signals will be modernized. With work planned through November (and traffic down to one lane at times), the Highway Department is advising motorists to consider alternate routes to avoid congestion.

Glenview Road

Resurfacing and curb and gutter improvements between Waukegan and Chatham roads will continue through July 20, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) says. But beware farther west, too: Greenwood Road will be widened, resurfaced and receive new curbs and gutters and other modernizations at its intersection with Glenview Road between July 20 and Aug. 20.

Residential Northbrook

Every year the Village of Northbrook resurfaces about 3 miles of asphalt streets, based on a thorough review of the condition of the road, the pavement condition in relation to the adjacent streets and other factors. In 2011, the list includes Walters Avenue, Whitehall Drive, Asbury Road, Bellvue Place, Butternut Lane, Glendale Avenue, Penfold Place, Summerton Place, Cedar Lane, and others. Find a complete list online. The village will also resurface concrete streets in four subdivisions: Williamsburg, Charlemagne, Lone Tree, and Sutton Point.

Lehigh Avenue

Several improvements are coming to this thoroughfare. A bike path, storm sewer, landscaping and lighting project between Glenview Road and Chestnut Avenue is set for completion later this month, as are parking lot improvements in two locations on Lehigh Avenue: at Compass Road and at West Lake Avenue.

Tri-State Tollway (I-294)

Work continues on the tollway, as crews aim this spring to finish a stormwater management project begun in 2010. The Bioswale Demonstration Project will improve surface water quality and remove common roadside pollutants between Touhy Avenue and Sanders Road. Bioswales are sloping channels designed to filter storm water runoff from the roadway. Construction zone speed limits (45 miles per hour) are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns. Use caution, especially when workers are present.