More than $18.3 million in safety upgrades will make an intersection in Lake Forest less likely to flood, officials in Illinois said Thursday.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) joined local and community leaders to celebrate the completion of a new pump station and other safety upgrades at the intersection of Deerpath Road and Skokie Highway that officials said will address longtime flooding issues, while providing more resiliency and enhancing regional mobility.
“When I took office almost five years ago, it was time to put the past behind us and modernize the basic foundations of our state,” Pritzker said. “Thanks to a more than $18 million investment made possible by Rebuild Illinois, we have entirely relocated and reconstructed the existing pump station, built two new detention ponds to handle any excess flow from the pump station, in addition to making multiple safety improvements that alleviate flooding and guarantee access to this major roadway.”
Officials said the project involved building a new pump station with greater capacity, as well as constructing two detention ponds and adding storm sewers. The new pump station consists of multiple pumps and a backup with a generator system for use in the event of a power failure. Once completed, the ownership and the maintenance responsibilities of the facility will transfer from IDOT to Lake Forest, officials said.
Prior to the construction of the new pump stations, the viaduct at U.S. 41 and Deerpath Road frequently closed because of flooding and water overwhelming the outdated pump station.
“Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is smartly investing in existing infrastructure to make sure it is sustainable and reliable for the long term,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. “Residents of Lake Forest and the surrounding area now can safely count on the roads they depend on to stay open during major rains, ensuring more quality time at home with their families.”
Additionally, the project involved resurfacing and widening Deerpath Road with dedicated right and left turn lanes, as well as adding new ADA-compliant sidewalks. The project is part of Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program to invest $33.2 billion into the state’s aging transportation system.