Willow Road Future
Welcome to WillowRoadFuture.org, the source for information for the Willow Road Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study being conducted by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT.) This website keeps you informed about the status of the study, provides information on upcoming meetings and events, and has links to resources, and an opportunity for you to provide your comments and questions related to the future of Willow Road.
The Willow Road study limits extend from approximately Illinois Route 43 (Waukegan Road) to Interstate 94 (Edens Expressway), a distance of two miles. The project area is located primarily within the Village of Northfield, but also affects the Villages of Northbrook, Glenview, and Winnetka.
Guided by IDOT's Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) policy, the Willow Road study continues to work with area communities to improve the overall safety, mobility, facility condition, and design of Willow Road so that it is capable of meeting both current and future demands of all users.
Since beginning the study in November 2009, the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and public meetings have helped guide the entire Willow Road process. The CAG met 12 times over the course of two years and their work has completed a context inventory of the study area, analyzed the existing roadway conditions, developed a list of alternatives and evaluated those alternatives over three rounds of study, all with a focus on safety and community context. The CAG process and overall input, combined with an extensive technical analysis, has led IDOT to the selection of a recommended alternative for Willow Road – Alternative 3 Modified. The recommended alternative includes two, 10-foot wide lanes in each direction separated by a curbed median with a 30 mph posted speed limit. IDOT is working closely with the Village of Northfield to determine the features and details of the recommended alternative, including drainage, access, refined pedestrian access, landscaping, and aesthetics.While the process is moving to end in late spring, there is still much more work ahead of us. We invite you to spend time on this site to explore the details of the Willow Road study process and the recommended alternative, in addition to learning about upcoming events like the public hearing currently scheduled for April.