The Anderson Road project in Elburn has been named the Chicago Region Project of the Year. (CREDIT: KDOT)

St. Patrick’s Day brought about quite a surprise for Kane County at the annual awards luncheon of the Chicago Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

At the awards presentation on Friday, March 17, the Anderson Road extension in the village of Elburn was awarded not only the Transportation Project of the Year for projects between $5 million to $25 million, but was also given the overall 2017 Public Works Project Excellence Award.

Kane County Deputy Director of Transportation Thomas B. Rickert and KDOT Director and Kane County Engineer Carl Schoedel accepted the APWA Award on St. Patrick’s Day. (CREDIT: APWA)

The Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor who, working together, complete public works projects.

The Public Works Project Excellence award takes the recognition one step further and identifies the project as the best example of public works projects completed in 2016 out of all the categories for the entire Chicago Metropolitan region.

The Anderson Road Extension was officially open to traffic at the end of 2015, and final project elements such as landscaping and punch list items were completed in 2016.

The extension provides a new roadway linking IL Route 38 to Keslinger Road in Elburn and consists of an overpass of the Union Pacific Railroad/Metra rail yard and about 1.6 miles of new roadway. The project delivers enhanced stormwater features, provides more than two miles of walking and biking trails and sidewalks, and greatly improves access to the Elburn Metra station.

“This is an improvement that we are all thankful for,” Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said. “The Anderson Road Extension delivers a major improvement for the motoring public and demonstrates the great accomplishments that can happen when you bring together the right team players. It’s a prime illustration of public funds well spent.”

Village of Elburn officials had the Anderson Road extension at the top of their wish list since the late 2000s, since the extension of the Metra Union Pacific West line to the Elburn. Prior to the Anderson Road Extension, there were no bridges or underpasses in Elburn, and the gates at the IL Route 47 railroad crossing were down about a total of three hours a day. Drivers had to travel seven miles out of their way to avoid the gates being down at the IL 47 railroad crossing.

The village played an important role facilitating the county’s right-of-way acquisition for the new extension, which provides a critical overpass for Elburn and the region and has greatly reduced congestion, improved emergency response, and continues to promote economic development opportunities within the village and Central Kane County.

Funding for the project came from the county, the Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors, the state of Illinois, and the federal government.

SOURCE: KDOT news release