Lake County Road Construction: 6 Major Projects Bringing $108.8M In Improvements

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Drivers across Lake County can expect several major road projects as the Illinois Department of Transportation invests more than $108.8 million in six projects through its Rebuild Illinois program.

Two of the projects are scheduled to be completed this year, while the others will continue through 2027, 2028 or later, according to IDOT.

“The state of Illinois is continuing its once-in-a-generation investment in our roads, bridges and public infrastructure here in Lake County,” Assistant House Majority Leader Bob Morgan, D-Highwood, said. “Families should be able to drive their children to school or head to work knowing that the roads they rely on are safe and dependable.”

Here are the six major projects included in IDOT's announcement:

• U.S. 41 at Illinois 176 (Rockland Road): Pump station, storm sewer and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements are underway and are expected to be completed in 2027. Daily lane closures are in place.
• U.S. 12/Illinois 59 and Illinois 176: Channelization, new shoulders and rumble strips are being installed along U.S. 12/Rand Road and Illinois 59 from Illinois 120 to south of Old Rand Road and at Case Road, as well as Illinois 176 from west of Ivanhoe Road to west of Hawley Street. The project began in 2025 and is expected to be completed this fall, with daily lane closures.
• Sheridan Road over Two Creeks: Culvert replacements are scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed in 2028. Sheridan Road will be completely closed during the work, with a detour in place.
• U.S. 41 north of Illinois 176: A new box culvert is scheduled to be installed between north of Illinois 176 and north of the Canadian National railroad. Work is expected to begin later this summer and wrap up this fall, with temporary lane reductions and shifting traffic patterns.
• U.S. 41 drainage and storm sewers: New drainage and storm sewer work north of Illinois 176 is scheduled to begin in spring 2027 and finish the following summer. IDOT says all lanes of traffic will remain open during construction.
• U.S. 41/Illinois 176 interchange: A major reconstruction of the interchange is scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2031. The project will include temporary lane reductions and traffic shifts on U.S. 41 and Illinois 176, as well as temporary closures and detours at Washington Avenue intersections with Shagbark Road and Skokie Valley Road.

Senate Majority Caucus Whip Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, said the projects will improve the “safety, reliability and efficiency” of roads throughout the county.

“From drainage and storm sewer improvements to major work along U.S. 41 and Illinois 176, these projects will strengthen our transportation infrastructure while supporting our local economy,” Morrison said.

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart also thanked the state for investing in “some of our most important and heavily traveled roadways,” calling Rebuild Illinois an “essential investment” in the county's transportation network.

The six projects are part of Gov. JB Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program. IDOT said the program has funded $25.6 billion in improvements statewide through its seventh year, including work on 24,498 miles of highways, 959 bridges and 1,475 additional safety improvements.