After a delay caused by a stalemate between the Union Pacific Railroad and the Illinois Department of Transportation, Huntley plans to move ahead with a major Kreutzer Road widening and realignment this year.
[ Utility work for Kreutzer widening due to start in coming days ]
Bids for the project haven’t been received yet. It went out to bid this month, and Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson confirmed that in March.
The state is handling the bid process because some of the funds Huntley secured for the project are federal dollars, which passed through IDOT, Johnson said.
Johnson said Huntley was on a “tight timeline” to complete some significant tree removal in the Kreutzer Road corridor to prepare for the coming roadwork. Because of a species that nests there, much of the tree work had to be done by April 1.
In February at Huntley’s state of the village address, Johnson said the village has been working toward the Kreutzer Road project for the better part of the past decade.
“We’ve done everything we can to make this project shovel-ready,” he said.
Johnson said there was a stalemate between the railroad and IDOT over property rights to cross railroad tracks, which held up the project. Kreutzer and the rail tracks intersect in the area of the roadwork.
Johnson said the village has all the property needed, has done engineering work and has spent millions of dollars to get the project ready.
“We are working diligently to facilitate this project, but, unfortunately, we’re getting caught up, as many road projects are, in this ongoing disagreement,” Johnson said.
The project carries a $16.7 million price tag, according to information presented at the State of Huntley event, but local officials have secured grants and negotiated development agreements to get funding for the project. Johnson said the village has received over $13 million in outside funding for the project.
The work involves widening Kreutzer Road to three lanes, one lane in each direction, and adding a center left-turn lane. The road will also be realigned at the at-grade crossing with the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad tracks are where the Chicago-to-Rockford rail line is planned.
A stop on that line was proposed for Huntley, but local officials decided last fall to decline.
Kreutzer Road at those railroad tracks has also been identified in the village’s comprehensive plan as a potential site for a train station.
IDOT was not immediately available for comment on the Kreutzer Road update.
A UP raid spokesperson said the rail company “appreciates the village of Huntley and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s efforts and partnership in advancing this project. We’re pleased to see it move forward.”