Mmmm, new asphalt.

In Lake County

​

As I follow road, trail and bridge projects around the suburbs and spread the word, sometimes advocates spread word of projects back to me. That happened after my last newsletter, when Scott Eisner told me that Checker Road in Long Grove was being repaved. It certainly piqued my interest, because I've enjoyed that seemingly secret road for more than two decades.

​

So I decided to ride out that way and also check on a couple of other road projects within one of my favorite Lake County routes (to Long Grove, Wauconda, Lake Zurich and back home). I learned those projects were not yet as satisfying as the work on Checker Road, which was quickly finished with little ballyhoo from Long Grove.
​

Resurfacing is planned on the great Old McHenry Road in Long Grove and Hawthorn Woods. I thought that would happen this year, but only sewer work has begun. We have to wait for the new pavement. (This is not the massive Old McHenry Road project coming to the west.)

​

Then the Main Street redevelopment in Lake Zurich is still going on. The highlight there is a total reconfiguration by the lakefront promenade, with a large new median to slow auto traffic and new, brick parking spaces — but no bicycling infrastructure. Will I still be able to ride through there from the north to get to Ela Road?

​

Read more and see pictures of the projects, and learn how Lake County is seeking input for its next long-term transportation plan, called Envision 2050.

In other local news

​

Meanwhile, one big thing I learned from a suburban transportation advocacy conference call is that Busse Highway in Park Ridge and Des Plaines was repaved and reconfigured. It now has only two auto lanes (plus a turn lane) as room was made for bike lanes on each side. The Park Ridge cycling club celebrated it.

​

Then the Daily Herald took great pictures of the new bridge from the Busse Woods Forest Preserve into Elk Grove Village.

​

And PBS is now showing "From Rails to Trails," in which our Illinois Prairie Path in DuPage and Kane counties figures prominently. See the latest in local news.

​

​

ALWAYS ON THE WEBSITE

​

E-bike law round-up: Mount Prospect's and St. Charles' final decisions (on the less strict side) are now in the compilation.

​

Trail round-up: It's about time for trails to shine as the leaves change. See where to go.

​

Other road and trail work: Projects affecting bicyclists are still going on. See what's been happening this year.

​

Ready to see the grand fall-color finale? Throw your jackets on. — Neil

​

THANK YOU to donors Alan White, John Heer, Terry Witt, Mitchell C. Jones, T L Szensy, Douglas H. Hoffman, James Krause, Melynda Findlay Shamie, Eric Slagter and Jeffery Norman. They're helping support my website and work. You can, too.
​Buy me a cup of coffee, as they say?

​

At top: Checker Road in Long Grove was so fresh Oct. 11 they hadn't even taken down the orange signs yet.

Read old newsletters. And please forward this to anyone interested.