The construction of a roundabout on Almond Road in Gurnee will be completed in time for the opening of nearby Woodland Middle School the week of Aug. 20, village officials said Friday.
The project, which started the week of July 9, is running a few days behind the village’s initial timeline, but the delay is not expected to affect completion before school opens, according to Assistant Village Administrator Jack Linehan.
The roundabout is scheduled to open Wednesday, Aug. 22. It was constructed on Almond at Dada Drive between Grand Avenue and Washington Street, with a detour that currently utilizes smaller side streets to direct motorists around the construction zone.
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Linehan said Friday that the bulk of the work is completed, but the roundabout will not be opened until all of the final striping is finished to help ensure motorists know how to navigate the traffic circle.
He added that the center of the roundabout will remain as pavement, rather than being landscaped, to allow school buses and large trucks to cut through the center and safely go over and through the roundabout’s island rather than around it.
The project included removal of old pavement, utility work, construction of the roundabout and, now, final road-base work and painting of stripes and signage.
Village officials said the “mini-roundabout” has been designed to improve traffic flow at the intersection, which previously had been controlled by a four-way stop.
Officials said it was determined by village engineers that the mini-roundabout would improve both traffic flow and safety at the intersection.
The construction was planned and timed in coordination local schools to be completed before school returns to session, officials said.
According to Linehan, the village received complaints from some neighbors about the detour through residential neighborhoods, especially at the beginning of the project, but as completion nears, that has died down.
He added that the roundabout — in conjunction with the current state projects including resurfacing of Grand through Gurnee and major bridge replacement and widening work at Route 41 and Grand Avenue — will result in smoother driving and quicker traffic flow for the Gurnee area.
Studies show that the roundabout should also improve safety for pedestrians at an intersection that is well-traveled by both motorists and those on foot.
The project is part of the village’s $11.7 million capital work campaign for summer 2018.