Numerous traffic improvements planned for Old Town Algonquin next year

A number of projects, including a bike path connecting to the Old Town Prairie Trail and a roundabout at North Main Street and Cary-Algonquin Road, meant to improve traffic flow, are slated for Algonquin next year.

This construction, which also includes narrowing the pavement width on North Main Street, is anticipated to start in the fall of 2021.

Village employees say the roundabout at Main Street and Cary-Algonquin Road will allow traffic to flow smoothly, while creating a safer intersection, and reduce conflict points and eliminate head-on or T-bone accidents.

A public meeting on these construction projects was held by the Public Works Department, including Director Bob Mitchard, and an engineering team from Christopher Burke Engineering that will oversee the construction.

The first section of the project will be located along Harrison Street from the Old Town Prairie Trail to Park Street, and the next section will focus on Main Street, from south of Riverview Drive to North of the Cary-Algonquin Road intersection.

Construction on Harrison at the Old Town Prairie Trail to Algonquin Road will include a new bike path, new asphalt pavement and a slightly narrowed roadway pavement, to accommodate the new path.

Harrison Street to Washington Street to Algonquin Road will be reconstructed, and a streetscape is planned for the area.

North of Algonquin Road, the construction team is planning a new brick sidewalk streetscape to Harrison Street to match the brick sidewalk features added along Main Street in the Downtown area.

Algonquin will also add the new bicycle path on the west side of the roadway, and place new concrete pavement.

North of Front Street along Harrison Street, a new bike path along Harrison and a brick crosswalk between front and Edwards streets is planned.

Along Main Street, just south of Sunny Drive, construction includes new retaining walls, sidewalk improvements, striped on on-road bicycle lanes.

North of Riverview Drive, along Main Street, there will be new asphalt pavement, landscaping, a protected off-road bicycle path on the East side to the roundabout, sidewalk on the west side of the roadway and a median separating the vehicle lane from the bicycle path.

In the summer of 2021, construction will begin on the improvements along Harrison Street and continue through the fall.

Utility relocation, according to the village, will also occur at some point at the site of the roundabout. When this initial work is done, the construction team will begin improvements along Main Street and the roundabout construction, that the village says should be completed by the fall of 2022.

Detours will be required depending on when and where construction occurs, and information will be provided and shared for impacted motorists, the village said.

When construction happens on Harrison Street between Edwards and Park Streets, Riverview Drive will be closed, though not during the winter for safety reasons.