Work Continues on Washington Street Underpass, Widening Project

Submission by the Lake County Division of Transportation

The Lake County Division of Transportation provided the following update this past week on the Washington Street widening and underpass project

The Washington Street Thoroughfare project is an effort to reconstruct and widen Washington Street as well as provide a grade separation by lowering Washington Street under the Metra railroad tracks and creating a new railroad bridge over Washington Street.

As part of the underpass portion of the project, the concrete support structure for the bridge and the west retaining wall has been completed. With the support structure completed, the bridge erection can begin to take place.

On the road portion of the project, from Grandview Drive to Haryan Way, storm sewer installation continues. Once the storm sewer work is finished, the contractor will prep the road bed by installing stone.

The roadway portion of the project extends from the eastern side of Grandview Drive to just west of Haryan Way. Crews will construct a new roadway just west of Arbor Drive and widen out to two lanes in the eastbound direction just past Ravine Drive. When completed, Washington Street will be a four lane wide road with left turn bays at Hainesville Road and an open median for eastbound left turns into all of the driveways between Circle and Lakeside Drives.

Meanwhile, the temporary closure of Washington Street at the railroad crossing that was scheduled for June 17 through June 20 has been postponed by the contractor. The closure will be rescheduled as this is a necessary part of the Washington Street underpass project. Another road closure notice will be sent with the rescheduled closure dates once they are available.

Visit the project website for continued updates about this project, and to sign up for email alerts. The project website includes a construction camera set up for the underpass portion so you can watch the progress.