Redesign of Chestnut-Waukegan corner in Glenview to rely on state money

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Traffic waits and passes through the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Waukegan Road in Glenview Monday. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:15AM

Glenview village trustees Tuesday approved a redesign plan for a busy, difficult intersection, but will need state funding to complete it.

Currently, Chestnut Avenue and Waukegan Road is a four-leg corner, with north-south Waukegan intersecting a Chestnut from the west and a village right-of-way opposite Chestnut extending east into a shopping center.

Ellen Dean, village economic development manager, said the intersection’s east drive was currently open to traffic, but the stoplight was timed too short, causing vehicles to stack up waiting in line to exit.

The Chestnut Avenue stoplights also were not timed concurrently, which slowed Waukegan Road traffic going north and south, she said.

In addition, business patrons parking in the shopping center were backing over a public sidewalk on Waukegan Road, and multiple entrances near the traffic signal going into the center were causing accidents.

“This intersection is one of the highest-hazard corners in the village,” she said, adding 67 accidents occurred in 2009-11 at the intersection.

In rebuilding Chestnut Road into a better four-leg configuration, several changes to nearby businesses were agreed upon between the village and property owner E.J. Stern.

Under proposed improvements, a dry cleaning/fitness center building will be demolished and replaced with a smaller retail store to provide more street space for vehicles lining up at the stoplight.

Also, access to all drive aisles from the two shopping center lots and Taco Bell would permit drivers to turn north and south onto Waukegan Road.

This plan could be begun in 2013.

The Illinois Department of Transportation still must accept the reconstruction, which also depends on $2.6 million in federal money coming through to complete.

A three-way design of the intersection, which IDOT has approved, would close Chestnut’s east right-of-way and construct a southbound frontage lane with parallel parking in front of the nearby Taco Bell.

However, Deputy Village Manager Don Owen said the adjusted four-legged plan was “99 percent” certain.

Under financing, the village would pay $2.95 million for the project, while state funds were marked at $320,000 and federal at $2.6 million.

Costs for property owners in demolition, building construction and tenant reconstruction were expected to exceed $500,000.

In recouping costs, an additional state sales tax up to 1 percent could be imposed and shared between the village and property owners.

The added tax, typically used in a state-authorized Business Improvement District, may be collected up to 23 years.

Village President Kerry Cummings said should the Glenview’s payment exceed $2.9 million, in protecting taxpayers perhaps the village should be able to call off the project.