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A Route 47 intersection in Elburn. 📸 Credit: Google Street View
A nearly $4 million study about the future of Route 47 through western Kane County is one step closer to approval.
The county's Executive Committee on Wednesday advanced a contract with Schaumburg-based GFT Infrastructure to study about 17 miles of the highway, from Plank Road south to I-88 (including Elburn and Lily Lake).
A federal planning grant and a state match would pay for the study at no cost to county taxpayers.
Here's what to know:
The purpose of the study: County transportation officials say traffic along Route 47, which is primarily a two-lane road, continues to increase amid growth in the area. Widening to two lanes in each direction is one long-term option, but existing homes and businesses in Elburn and Lily Lake leave little room to widen through town.
Bypasses are a possibility: Consultants would develop concepts for three to four possible bypass routes each for Elburn and Lily Lake, meaning alternate paths that would carry Route 47 traffic around the downtown areas instead of through them.
Trails and crossings: The study would also explore bike and pedestrian needs, including a new crossing concept for the Great Western Trail and improvements at various intersections along the corridor.
It’s still early days: This is what's known as a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study, which aims to identify problems and compare rough options before detailed engineering or design begins. Any recommended project that comes out of the study would still need further engineering and environmental review.
If approved, the study would run about three years and include three public information meetings and the formation of a community advisory group.
The full County Board is expected to vote on the proposal as a next step.
Watch the committee meeting recording and read more in this agenda document (page 786).
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