Realignment of Granart Road and Dugan Road

CHALLENGE

The intersection of Granart Road and Dugan Road in the Village of Sugar Grove posed significant safety and traffic challenges. Located just 300 feet south of US Route 30 and adjacent to a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) at-grade railroad crossing, the existing “T” intersection created traffic congestion and safety concerns due to its proximity to both the highway and the railroad. The intersection was stop-controlled on Granart Road and the south leg of Dugan Road, which proved inadequate for managing increasing traffic volumes.

SOLUTION

Phase I Intersection Design Analysis

The initial phase of the project focused on a comprehensive alternatives analysis to identify the most effective solution for the realignment of Granart Road and Dugan Road. This analysis explored several options for both roadway realignment and intersection control, including a four-way stop, a traffic signal, and a roundabout.

HR Green led the technical design efforts by developing detailed horizontal and vertical layouts for each alignment and intersection alternative. Additionally, we prepared concept-level cost estimates for all proposed solutions, allowing the Village to evaluate each option based on performance, feasibility, and budget.

Our team actively participated in a series of public outreach meetings, which ultimately led to the selection of the roundabout as the preferred intersection improvement. A technical memorandum was prepared to document the methodologies and findings of the alternatives analysis.

Phase II Intersection Plans, Specifications, and Bidding Documents

During Phase II, HR Green led the development of comprehensive plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS&E) for the Granart Road and Dugan Road realignment project. We also prepared all bidding documents and provided critical support to the Village of Sugar Grove throughout the local letting process.

The construction staging and traffic management plans presented significant challenges due to the need for three separate connections to the existing roadways along Granart Road and Dugan Road. A portion of the proposed roundabout overlapped with the existing Dugan Road, making it impossible to construct the roundabout in its entirety without disrupting traffic.

Numerous businesses along Granart Road, Dugan Road, Bucktail Lane, and Duffy Lane were impacted by the project. To keep these businesses open during construction, HR Green developed a comprehensive plan that combined a through-traffic detour with partial road closures. This approach effectively diverted non-local traffic away from the project area, easing construction activities while preserving access for local businesses.

Further complicating the design was the presence of a 30-inch high-pressure gas main, owned by Nicor, which cut diagonally across the Granart Road realignment within a protected easement. HR Green’s designers worked diligently to adjust the roadway, ditch, and storm sewer profiles to meet Nicor’s minimum cover requirements without compromising the project’s integrity or safety standards.

Close and ongoing coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was necessary to maintain compatibility with adjacent improvements to US Route 30 at Dugan Road.

Additionally, HR Green was responsible for preparing plats of highways and detailed legal descriptions for the acquisition of over seven acres of new right-of-way and more than three acres of permanent and temporary easements. We worked closely with TADI to lead land acquisition negotiations with affected property owners, including Rich Harvest Farms and Antenna Installation Service, Inc. Our team provided numerous exhibits and attended several meetings to facilitate smooth negotiations and timely land procurement.

This project operated under a tight timeline due to the need to complete all improvements before the summer of 2016 to accommodate a national event hosted at Rich Harvest Farms. The Village awarded the construction contract to Geneva Construction on August 4, 2014, less than one year after HR Green began the alternatives analysis.

Phase III Resident Engineering and Construction Inspection

During Phase III, HR Green provided comprehensive resident engineering and construction inspection services on behalf of the Village of Sugar Grove for the $3.2 million Granart Road and Dugan Road realignment project.

The project included the complete realignment of Granart Road and Dugan Road and the construction of a modern roundabout to improve traffic flow and safety. This design provided greater separation between the US Route 30/Dugan Road intersection and the adjacent Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) at-grade railroad crossing, located approximately 100 feet south of the highway.

Project improvements included:

• 3,400 feet of new Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) roadway and curb and gutter
• Intersection and decorative lighting
• Stamped concrete truck apron
• Asphalt bike path
• Water main relocation
• Detention pond and associated storm sewer and ditch lines

HR Green also provided ongoing Phase III engineering services during construction and continued landowner outreach activities on behalf of the Village. As part of this regular outreach, we kept business owners and residents informed of changes in traffic patterns and closure periods.

Construction was completed in the fall of 2015.

BENEFIT

The Granart Road and Dugan Road realignment project significantly improved traffic safety and efficiency for the Village of Sugar Grove. HR Green helped the Village of Sugar Grove resolve a critical infrastructure challenge and pave the way for safer, more efficient transportation in the region.