Firms Present Proposals for CFI, Randall Road Project

While a final decision by the McHenry County Board to create a continuous-flow or traditional intersection at Randall and Algonquin roads has not yet been made, two engineering and design firms introduced themselves Tuesday at an Algonquin Village Board meeting and gave presentations on the project, according to the Northwest Herald. 

Representatives from Transystems and Bollinger Lach & Association are both negotiating with the county to take on the design work for the Randall Road improvement project, according to the Northwest Herald. 

The Lake in the Hills Village Board is expected to get a similar presentation on Thursday at its meeting, according to the article. 

Lake in the Hills village officials have publicly voiced their disdain over the continuous-flow intersection, which they believe will draw business away from the Lake in the Hills portion of Randall Road. 

"A continuous-flow intersection has traffic turning left placed to the left of oncoming traffic, opposite where it is normally. This removes the conflict between oncoming traffic and traffic turning left," according to a FAQ page on the Randall Road Improvements project website. "Vehicles turning left access the lane a few hundred feet in front of the intersection."

The county plan also calls for widening Randall Road to six lanes and includes improvements from Ackman Road to County Line Road, according to the Northwest Herald. Under the five-year plan, which is not finalized, construction for the project would start in 2016, according to the article. 

A graphic showing an aerial map of the proposed plan, and a video which demonstrates how a CFI works, can be found on the Randall Road project website.

The continuous-flow intersection is meant to help cut down on travel time and congestion along the heavily traveled Randall Road, according to county officials. 

If a conventional intersection remained at Randall and Algonquin, projections for peak travel time in 2030 showed the average motorist would face a delay of nearly 93 seconds, which received an “F” or failing level of service for a roadway.

The CFI would mean a 51.1 second delay for the average motorist and a “D” level of service.