Algonquin Countryside, Pioneer Press, 10/4/2001

Rt #31 Western Bypass

Residents, business owners fear plan will hurt downtown district

BY LISA R. BROWN

STAFF WRITER

Residents and business owners packed a McHenry County Highway Department meeting to find out how the proposed Route 31 western bypass through Algonquin will unclog one of the county’s busiest intersections.

The project, which began with a feasibility study five years ago, aims to divert traffic from Algonquin’s Route 31 and Route 62 intersection and alleviate traffic on local roads that drivers currently use to avoid the intersection.

Cary, Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills were included in the planning process when the Illinois Department of Transportation decided this summer to include widening Route 31 just north of Cary-Algonquin Road up to Rakow Road to avoid a traffic bottleneck.

Architects and engineers on the project were on hand at last week’s public meeting held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn to answer questions and hear concerns about the estimated $38 million project. Construction isn’t expected to begin until fall 2004 or spring 2005 and the price tag of the completed project could top $40 million.

Increased safety

Pending approval, the four mile long project will stretch from Edgewood Drive on Route 31 in Algonquin to Rakow Road in Crystal Lake.

From 1997 to 1999, there were 460 accidents and 123 injuries at the intersection. "Something had to be done," said McHenry County board member Dan Shea, who favors the western bypass route because he said it preserves downtown Algonquin’s Main Street. The bypass itself, contained wholly in Algonquin, begins at the base of Huntington Drive and runs in a circular arc westward along what is presently the McHenry County Conservation District’s bike path.

Civil Tech engineer Jeff Young said the grade of Huntington Drive from Route 31 to Circle Drive will be slightly increased to provide a gradual turn onto Main Street. County highway officials are working with MCCD to reroute the quarter mile of the bike path that will be displaced by the western bypass. "We'll find the best location. It won’t cross the road," said architect Pete Pointer, who explained the bike route will likely go under the bridge that will be constructed over Crystal Creek near Towne Park. Restricted access Near the intersection of Algonquin Road, the four-lane highway will loop eastward just north of Cary-Algonquin Road and reconnect to the existing Rt. 31 roadway, which will be widened from that point to four lanes up to Rakow Road.

Many of the residents’ complaints at the public meeting centered on the plan to restrict access to and from Cary-Algonquin Road onto existing Rt. 31 to right in and right out traffic only. "We’re probably going to look at that closer," Shea said.

If the county receives design approval next summer, several Algonquin businesses will be displaced according to the current plan. The affected properties includes the Mobil at Huntington and Rt. 31, Parkside Auto Center, Burnex Corp., Algonquin Road House, a residence to the east of the Road House, the Toastmaster property, and the Prairie Trail Bike Shop.

Young said acquiring the properties is about a year away. "The right of way acquisition process can’t start until the project is approved," he said. Design approval would have to follow a public hearing on the project, set for spring 2002.

The long planning process has put the businesses set for displacement in a holding pattern.

Parkside Auto Center owner Steve Scott said he hopes to relocate his business in Algonquin but is not sure he will get what his business is worth. "We don’t know how much money we are going to get so we can’t look for" other property yet, he said.

Scott said he was surprised to find out that neighboring Burnex Corp. will be displaced according to the plan but was not listed in the feasibility study. "What I'm shocked to find out is the factory next to us is a full take and they never discussed it with them."

Burnex Corp., which manufactures auto and electric metal stampings, first received notice it would have to move at last week’s public meeting. "This was the first time that they came out and said, ‘Yes, Burnex is going to have to move,’ " said Burnex vice president Scott Suhr. Suhr said the company put the brakes on expanding the factory once it learned of the western bypass plans five years ago. "And at least for another two years, we’re going to be short on storage space for a company our size."

Suhr said the company plans on rebuilding within a 15 mile radius of its present location on West Algonquin Road.

Downtown reaction

Ken Colby went to the meeting to see if the project calls for demolition of a residence to the west of the Algonquin Road House that he rents out. "It looks like it’s going to miss my property," he said after he listened to the presentation and scanned the maps. Colby said he thinks the western bypass will alleviate traffic at the Route 31/Route 62 intersection, which he said is "bad in the morning and bad at night."

Businesses on the existing Route 31 fear they will lose customers once the bypass takes away the traffic passing in front of their doors. "I don’t even know if you'll be able to get here unless you’re in a helicopter," said veterinarian Ron Durante of the Algonquin Animal Clinic, which is just north of Cary-Algonquin Road on Rt. 31. The clinic has relied on Rt. 31 traffic to draw in customers for 24 years. "It’s going to put our business on a cul-de-sac."

Carl Kristensen, an Algonquin resident who lives downtown, said the plan is "terrible." Kristensen said he’s most concerned with how downtown will suffer after traffic is routed away from Main Street. "Construction is very hard on business. It’s going to kill downtown." "It’s not going through our house, but very close to it," said Ethan Weeks, who lives on Washington Street. Weeks agreed with Kristensen that the bypass’ effect on downtown businesses will be devastating. "There won’t be anyone that wants to stop there. No new traffic will go through to see downtown."

Additional input will be accepted by the county highway department until Oct. 24. Written comments on the project can be sent to the highway department at P.O. Box 369, Woodstock, IL, 60098, attn: Joseph Korpalski.