Updates 

• March 7, 2024 -  The permanent light poles have now been installed, and the project is considered complete with only minor parkway restoration remaining.
  
  
• February 22, 2024 - The new permanent light poles and fixtures are installed and working off a temporary power feed. ComEd needs to replace a transformer before the contractor can install the permanent power feed. 
  
  
• February 8, 2024 -  The installation schedule begins on Monday, February 12^th.  Later in the week, the contractor will need to remove the temporary light poles which will require lane closures and flaggers.  The City’s changeable message board signs will be placed on Congress Parkway to alert drivers to the work happening next week.  In addition, the City is delivering the attached notice to businesses along Congress Parkway.
  
  
• January 17, 2024 – The permanent light poles are expected to be delivered and installed at both roundabout locations by late February. The new black metal poles will replace the temporary wooden poles that were installed in order to open the roadway after construction. 
  
  
• November 16, 2023-  The signal poles were erected this week and the lights are scheduled to be energized the week of November 27th.
  
  
• November 9, 2023-  Contractor is still waiting on permanent light poles to be installed. Temporary lighting will remain in place until permanent poles are available.
  
  
• October 11 2023-  Both roundabouts are open to traffic. Permanent lighting will be installed once the lighting equipment is received
  
  
• September 28, 2023-  Paving and sign installation work is complete. Temporary street signs are beginning installed. Permanent street light poles for both the Federal Drive and Exchange Drive roundabouts are scheduled to be delivered and installed in October.

• September 21, 2023- Paving was completed and sign installation will begin next. Com-Ed is getting power to the intersection for temporary streetlights. The permanent street light poles for both the Federal Drive and Exchange Drive roundabouts are scheduled to be delivered and installed in October.
  
  
• September 14, 2023- The concrete work has been completed! The temporary lighting and landscaping will be worked on the rest of this week with paving next week. The intersection of Congress and Federal should be open at the end of September. The permanent street light poles for both the Federal Drive and Exchange Drive roundabouts are scheduled to be delivered and installed in October.

• August 31, 2023- The contractor has made progress on the concrete work with the weather cooperating. They are also working on electrical items, with asphalt paving taking place in the next few weeks. The contractor is on schedule and should be substantially complete at the end of September. The permanent street light poles for both the Federal Drive and Exchange Drive roundabouts are scheduled to be delivered and installed in October. 

• August 24, 2023- The contractor finished the outer curb pour this week and is now working on sidewalks and islands. Next week the contractor will continue concrete work and begin electrical work. 
  
  
• August 22, 2023- The Exchange Drive roundabout is open, including all striping, paving, and inner circle landscaping.  The intersection of Federal Dr. and Congress Pkwy. is now closed for the 2^nd phase of roundabout construction.  The Federal Dr. roundabout is expected to be complete in approximately 6-8 weeks.
  
  
• August 17, 2023- The storm sewer work is complete at the intersection, and the contractor has moved on to pavement removal. Next week the contractor will begin forming the curb & gutter.
  
  
• August 3, 2023- The Exchange Drive roundabout asphalt paving was completed this week along with the stamped concrete in the circle.  Sign installation, landscaping, and striping work continues this week. The intersection should be open to traffic the afternoon of Tuesday, August 8. On the same day, the contractor will close down the intersection of Federal Drive and Congress Parkway to begin construction of a mini-roundabout.  Staff handed out detour notices to adjacent businesses that will be affected by the Federal Drive detour. The posted detour route will be same (Congress Parkway/US Route 14/ Pingree Road).
  
  
• July 13, 2023-  Concrete work continues on the project. The inner circle island curb is being formed and poured along with sidewalk. The Exchange Drive roundabout is scheduled to be completed by August 4. Work on the Federal Drive roundabout will not start until the Exchange Drive project is complete and open to traffic.
  
  
• July 6, 2023- The contractor completed pavement removal and the outer radii curb. Islands are being poured this week with the inner circle scheduled for next week. 
  
  
• June 30, 2023 - The contractor completed the outer radii curb for the roundabout and is working on electrical installation this week. Next week the contractor will begin median and island work.
  
  
• June 23, 2023 - The contractor completed the underground work and will pour the outer curb by the end of this week. Next week the contractor will continue with concrete work for the roundabout inner circle and complete the required electrical work. 
  
  
• June 6, 2023 - The detour of Congress Parkway at Exchange Drive is now installed, and the intersection of Congress Parkway and Exchange Drive is now closed to begin construction. Motorist are encouraged to follow signage to get to their destinations and avoid cutting through private parking lots. This detour will be in place until early August.
  
  
• May 30, 2023 - Detour of Congress Parkway will begin on June 5^th as work begins on the intersection of Congress Parkway and Exchange Drive. Map of detour shown above. Motorists needing to access the north leg of Exchange Drive will need to come in from Pingree Road and detour through the Metra parking lot. Work at Exchange Drive is anticipated to be complete by early August.
  
  
• April 11, 2023-Landmark Contractors was awarded the construction bid for the Congress Parkway Roundabouts. Construction is anticipated to begin in June of 2023. Work will begin at the intersection of Congress Parkway and Exchange Drive, and upon completion of that intersection work will begin at Congress Parkway and Federal Drive. Detours of Congress Parkway will be installed during construction, and changeable message signs will be installed prior to work beginning to advise motorists of the upcoming detour.
  
  
• January 16, 2023 -The City hosted an open house at City Hall on January 11, 2023 to discuss proposed roundabouts along Congress Parkway at Exchange Drive and Federal Drive. Exhibits of the two roundabouts and the informational video can be viewed here:

- Roundabouts Video
- Federal Roundabout 
- Exchange Roundabout
- Roundabout Safety 
- Roundabout Operations 

The City accepted comment forms on the project at the open house, but if you were unable to attend and would like to submit any comments or feedback, you may submit an email to construction@crystallake.org.

January 2023 - The City will be hosting an open house public meeting on January 11, 2023, at City Hall from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. to discuss proposed roundabouts and detours during construction.  

The City is currently in the design phase of engineering for roundabouts at two intersections along Congress Parkway (Exchange Drive and Federal Drive). Construction is anticipated in 2023.

Roundabouts are becoming a more common solution to manage traffic at road intersections.

Roundabouts have several advantages over signalized intersections: They are safer and allow more traffic to flow through them. They also accommodate pedestrians and bicycles. Below is more information on these points. 

Safety

• Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than signalized intersections. 
• Roundabouts reduce overall collisions by 39% and reduce fatal crashes by 90%. 
• Please see this handout and brochure for more information. 

Operations

• Studies have also shown that roundabouts have many operational benefits over signalized intersections.  
• Roundabouts increase traffic capacity between 30 to 50% .
• Roundabouts reduce vehicle delays by 89%. 
• Roundabouts reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuel efficiency.
• This exhibit shows that most vehicle types, including large trucks, can navigate roundabouts.
• Please see this handout for more information on the operational benefits of roundabouts.
• This handout shows how to navigate through a roundabout. 

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations

• In roundabouts, crosswalks are set back from the intersection, which means drivers focus on the crossing and not other vehicles.
• Vehicles have lower speeds entering and leaving the roundabout, which leads to better yielding rates. 
• Please see this handout and brochure for more information.