Committee approves $1.6M appropriation for right‑of‑way acquisition on Wadsworth Road project

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee on July 30 approved a joint resolution appropriating $1,600,000 of the county’s quarter‑percent sales tax for transportation funds to acquire necessary right‑of‑way and easements for improvements along Wadsworth Road from Illinois Route 131 (Green Bay Road) to Sheridan Road.

Shane Schneider, Lake County Department of Transportation director, told the committee the project is now in Phase 2 detailed design and the team has identified about 50 parcels that will require either fee‑simple acquisition or temporary easements, primarily between Lewis Avenue and Sheridan Road. Schneider said most acquisitions involve portions of properties adjacent to the highway; no full home or structure acquisitions are anticipated.

The preferred alternative from Phase 1 converts the roadway from two lanes to a three‑lane cross section to better handle left‑turn movements from side streets and driveways and to improve safety. The project will also install a new bike path along the south side of Wadsworth Road that ties to recently completed work at the Lewis Avenue/Wadsworth intersection and connects to regional bike‑path plans along Sheridan Road. Schneider said the project will replace aging drainage infrastructure, large culverts at Bull Creek, and some retaining walls.

Committee members asked about typical right‑of‑way widths (Schneider said acquisitions average about 10 feet where needed but vary parcel by parcel), whether properties on the west side of Lewis required acquisition (those were slated for resurfacing only), and construction timing. Schneider said the department expects to go out to bid in 2027 with construction likely to begin in 2028; right‑of‑way acquisition is the critical path.

Member Hunter and others noted the department will offer formal appraisals to property owners and negotiate acquisitions. The committee approved the motion (moved by Hewitt, second by Roberts) and carried the resolution.

Schneider added the county will coordinate with municipalities and state planning for connectivity to state parks and other regional trails; the municipalities have federal funding in some phases of their Sheridan Road regional bike‑path plans.