Algonquin And Barrington Hills Debate Route 62 Widening

Traffic safety and resident lifestyle will clash on completion of the Longmeadow Parkway bridge over the Fox River, leading to debate among the Villages of Algonquin and Barrington Hills and the Illinois Department of Transportation respecting possible construction of two additional lanes along Route 62 between Routes 25 and 68. Barrington Hills Village President Martin McLaughlin opposes a four lane highway through his village, while Algonquin Village President John Schmitt insists the widening is needed to handle the 55% increase in vehicle traffic expected when the Fox River bridge crossing is completed in 2022.

IDOT has proposed two possible options for handling the expected increase of 8,000 cars per day over the roadway once the new bridge is finished. Resident comments are being solicited about construction of a “rural” highway including a paved median and curbs, versus a “suburban” roadway consisting of two lanes in each direction separated by a grass median and curbs. The current roadway has one curbless lane in each direction, separated by a double yellow line and an occasional left turn lane in the center.