After almost eight years, the project to reconstruct Green Bay Road at the intersection of Winnetka is almost complete. The new and improved cross-section is laid out not only to be safer, but also to relieve traffic congestion.

The $650,000 project included adding a left turn lane northbound onto Green Bay Road and traffic turn signals in all directions. The crosswalks have also been consolidated so that they are better coordinated with the traffic signals.

Though it caused irritation over the summer, the construction will hopefully make Green Bay Road a safer place.

Efforts to redo the intersection started back in 2004, but as the project grew the village faced significant delays. Green Bay Road, is a state route, and was the cause of many of the delays. “Because Green Bay Road is under Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) control, all of the work required their approval,” Steve Saunders, Winnetka Village Engineer, explained.

The village needed 11 separate variances – permits to expand the street – from the IDOT design requirements, which meant that the project wasn’t granted until earlier this year.

The village agreed that this was a necessary change. There have been numerous pedestrian and car accidents in and around the intersection, almost all caused by the confusing walking paths and turn signals.

Most notable was a hit-and-run incident that occurred right after school in 2011, where a sophomore was critically injured. “The previous configuration allowed numerous pedestrian movements through the intersection that were not always clear,” said Saunders.

In addition to reconstructing the roads and pedestrian walkways, the village also has plans to move the pace bus stop to the north side of Winnetka Avenue.

“This way students using the bus to travel to and from school do not have to cross Winnetka Avenue to get to school,” explained Saunders. The Village hopes that all these efforts will make the intersection a safer place.

Students’ responses to the construction have been varied; many found that the summer construction was annoying to deal with; especially as so many other roads were under construction around the same time. “The construction was pretty annoying to drive through because it caused a lot of traffic,” said senior Katie Muth.

However, most students understood that the project was necessary to improve safety. “I think that the construction was a very important project,” senior Greer LaFontant explained, “Everyday since I was a sophomore, when I walk to school I’m afraid for my life when I cross that intersection.”

Now that the construction is done, many agree that the aggravation was worth it.

Saunders estimates that the rest of the project, including installing the permanent traffic signals, should be finished within the next month.