Johnsburg Road Widening and Reconstruction

Johnsburg Road Widening and Reconstruction project improves the capacity and level of service along Johnsburg Road from IL 31 to Chapel Hill Road, including three intersecting streets. HR Green completed the Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III engineering services and was funded by CMAQ and ITEP.

The existing Johnsburg Road cross-section consists of a two-lane 24-foot wide pavement with variable width aggregate shoulders. A continuous third lane was added to function as a median/left-turn lane. Intersecting streets were widened to provide channelization at their intersection with Johnsburg Road. The roadway cross-section remains rural with proposed bituminous and aggregate shoulders for a majority of the project. Roadway sections within the downtown area required curb and gutter.

Alternate geometric studies were completed at the Johnsburg Road/Chapel Hill intersection. Alternates included major realignment, maintaining existing geometry, and a roundabout. The alternates were evaluated based on capacity improvements, right-of-way impacts, costs, and public support. HR Green conducted extensive public coordination, including two open house public meetings and a public hearing.

A total ground and boundary survey of the corridor was performed. The research was conducted to determine existing right-of-way and then field located existing right-of-way points along the front of properties adjacent to the road.

HR Green’s Environmental Scientist performed a field review to delineate wetlands within the corridor and coordinated with the USACE to verify the delineations and determine if the wetlands were jurisdictional. A Wetland Technical Report was prepared based on the findings and submitted to IDOT for review and approval.

Phase II engineering encompassed the preparation of contract documents for the proposed improvements, which consisted of the Johnsburg Road widening from two to three lanes with a two-way left-turn lane as well as the construction of a modern roundabout at Chapel Hill Road. The roundabout was the first constructed in McHenry County. The project also included the installation of two traffic signals, roadway lighting, sidewalks with decorative brick paver accent strips, stamped concrete aprons, decorative railings, benches, and landscaping in the center of downtown Johnsburg. New drainage facilities were installed in conjunction with the roadway improvements, which included a storm sewer and a 200’ long 10’x4’ precast box culvert to divert an existing drainage channel under the roundabout.