Algonquin Road Commuter Squeeze Take Three: Wednesday

Driver advisory signs about Western Bypass construction were noncommittal when they were finally turned on Thursday afternoon warning of delays the "Week of 9/10".  The latest best estimate for closing a lane both directions on Algonquin Road is next Wednesday.

The previous estimate had been for today but, obviously, it's raining this morning, and only a couple of turnpulls and an excavator had been trucked in by Thursday afternoon, anyway.

There's no doubt Algonquin Road will squeeze down to one lane each way from Route 31 to Meyer Drive.  The question is when it will start. Algonquin Public Works Project Manager Shawn Hurtig, largely an observer to the IDOT and MCDOT Bypass, said Thursday that planners figured tree removal will probably start Monday and, "Best case scenario is that the traffic pattern change will occur on Wednesday."