Fairfield Road planning study completed

Over the past two years, the Lake County Division of Transportation has been studying Fairfield Road from Oakwood Drive in Round Lake Beach to Gilmer Road in Wauconda to identify ways to improve and modernize the corridor. Thanks to feedback from residents at public meetings and through online comments, LCDOT has completed the Planning and Environmental Linkages study, according to a news release. The report has been approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration and will help guide future engineering and construction projects along Fairfield Road. What’s next for Fairfield Road? The study divided the corridor into three sections: Gilmer Road to IL Route 60; IL 60 to IL Route 120; and IL 120 to IL Route 134. Work will move forward in stages. LCDOT is preparing to begin preliminary engineering for the section between Gilmer Road and IL Route 60. A public information meeting is expected in 2027, where residents will be encouraged to learn about the project and share feedback. Construction on that section is anticipated to begin as early as 2032, subject to project readiness and funding availability. The other two sections will be evaluated over the next three to five years.