Expect Traffic Snarls on Route 176 During Bridge Construction

You might want to consider another east-west route for awhile.

Route 176, between Green Bay Road and Waukegan Road, will become a one-lane thoroughfare this week as construction on the Bridge Reconstruction Project ramps up.

The $1.63 million project is expected to last up to six months through October 2012, according to a e-mail sent out to Lake Bluff residents this past weekend.

Upon completion, the new bridge will accommodate a middle turning lane on Route 176 in preparation for if a turn lane is constructed in the future on Route 176 from Route 41 to Green Bay Road, according to the e-mail.

Starting later this week, Route 176 will be reduced to one lane around the bridge, and temporary traffic signals have been hung above the road on either sides of the bridge to control traffic.

According to the same e-mail, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) indicated the temporary traffic signals will start Thursday (May 3) and operate on a 24 hour/7 days a week basis.

The bike path along Route 176 will remain open, according to IDOT.

For questions regarding the new bridge, residents and frequent users of Route 176, call (847) 705-4300.

For traffic updates in Lake County, visit Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch and click on Commute.

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