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Fremont Center Road, other upgrades topic of open house

Edtior's note: This story has been updated to clarify the timimg of the formation of a stakeholder group..

Extending Fremont Center Road and modifying the tough-angle intersection at Route 60 has been on the to-do list in Lake County for years, but transportation officials are focusing on a much broader network of potential improvements in light of the possibility of a Route 53 extension.

The Fremont Center Road intersection and its extension north to a recently realigned Peterson Road, as well as various possibilities in an area bounded by Peterson, Route 60 and Route 83 in Grayslake, Mundelein and Fremont Township, will be introduced at an open house today. The event is 5 to 7 p.m., at Fremont Intermediate School, 28754 N. Fremont Center Road.

Representatives from the Lake County Division of Transporation and consultants will be available to discuss the project and schedule, answer questions, present existing traffic and environmental conditions and seek public input regarding transportation issues and concerns in the study area. Visit http:www.lakecountyil.gov/transportation/

Study of the intersection began in 2012 but it was determined a broader, longer range study should be done to accommodate future development and anticipated changes in travel patterns due to the Route 53/120 project.

"We're all aware Route 53 may come to the area. If that road comes, then this triangle of property could become very appealing to developers," said Darrell Kuntz, project manager for the county.

Kuntz said one big issue with Fremont Center Road and Route 60 is the skewed angle at which they meet. The idea is to rework that to a 90-degree angle. As the study progressed, it was determined other road corridors, such as Allegheny and Winchester, also should be considered.

"We're taking this opportunity to get all of these roads connected in a way that makes sense," he said.

A Route 53 extension into central Lake County has been considered at various times for about 50 years. After months of debate and research, a committee of various stakeholders convened by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority last week forwarded funding recommendations for consideration by tollway authorities. Suggestions include a 4 cent per gallon gasoline tax in Lake County and other measures to raise $745 million to $993 million of the estimated $2.35 billion to $2.65 billion project cost.

The Fremont Center Road area planning study will analyze improvement to the intersection and alternatives for extending the road and others in the study area. Detailed studies would follow to consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, including connections to the Ray Lake Forest Preserve.

The study will be valuable with or without Route 53, according to Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor.

"We're aligning our economic development priorities with our infrastructure," he said.

After drafts of the alternatives are produced, a stakeholder involvement group including communities, transportation agencies and others with vested interest in the area would be assembled, Kuntz said.

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