Motorists Should Prepare for Walkup Road Closure

Motorists should prepare for another major road closure as construction work proceeds at the Route 176 and Walkup Road intersection after recent utility-relocation delays.

The southern portion of Walkup Road at Route 176 will be temporarily closed to through traffic starting sometime in July and remained closed through September. A detour route will be posted, and, because traffic will be re-routed, a temporary traffic light will be installed at Route 176 and Main Street, according to the Walkup Road Improvement Project website.

The Walkup Road improvement and expansion project, spearheading by McHenry County Division of Transportation, is expected to be completed in spring 2013. Up-to-date information about the project is available on WalkupRoad.com.

The approximately six-mile project runs from Route 176 in Crystal Lake north to Bull Valley Road. The work has been broken down into three segments, the first of which was completed in the middle portion of the route.

The remaining two sections include the south end of Walkup at Route 176 in Crystal Lake, near Veteran Acres, and the north segment from Crystal Springs Road north to Bull Valley Road.

In Crystal Lake, the county is widening both Walkup Road and Route 176 by adding two through lanes in each direction and separate left and right turn lanes, said Assistant City Engineer Abby Wilgreen.

The project also involves adding new storm sewers, new water main lines along Route 176, pavement reconstruction, new curbs and gutters, and updated traffic signals.

A bicycle path will be built on the east side of Walkup Road from Gates Street to Veteran Acres Park to connect to another bike path that was completed last year in the first segment of Walkup Road improvements.