The first steps toward building the long-awaited Western Bypass should, weather-permitting, start Monday, state transportation officials said.

Extensive earthwork and excavation will begin in the area north of Algonquin Road and west of Illinois 31 to prepare a rough outline of the new bypass route, an Illinois Department of Transportation press release states.

The $70 million project would re-route traffic away from the downtown Algonquin area — and in particular, away from the intersection of Route 62 and Route 31 — in an effort to reduce congestion.

The grading work should not disrupt traffic and will cost about $4.9 million, the press release states. The primary contractor is Ryan Incorporated Central, of Janesville, Wis. The work is expected to be done by Nov. 30.

IDOT is working to acquire the final property needed to move forward with the construction of the Western Bypass, said IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell. Bidding on the main construction project is expected to start in June. The entire project is expected to cost about $70 million.

"We are anticipating all land acquisition will be resolved before then," Tridgell said.

Though Tridgell would not comment on specific land acquistions that were still pending, the Daily Herald reports IDOT still needs to aquire land belonging to the U.S. Postal Service at 801 W. Algonquin Road. Condemnation proceedings were used to acquire other parcels along the construction route, according to the Daily Herald.

The plan is to start main construction on the bypass by later this summer, Tridgell said. The roadway will take about two years to complete.

The Western Bypass will involve building a new four-lane segment of Illinois 31, from roughly Virginia Road to Edgewood Drive. The project includes widening and resurfacing portions of Huntington Drive, Algonquin Road and the existing Illinois 31, according to IDOT. 

A new interchange will be built between the new segment of Illinois 31 and Illinois 62. Once the Western Algonquin Bypass is complete, jurisdiction over the existing Illinois 31 through Algonquin will be transferred to the village.