Views On Rakow Road

Next best thing to actually being on location--

New photos have been posted to the photos  page!
Click here to view!

Rakow Road Driving Reminder

As a reminder, asphalt paving has resumed throughout the Rakow Road project, including the side roads.

This work is expected to last into mid October.  Please expect delays as the paving is done, especially through intersections.  Be alert for flaggers and trucks entering and leaving the work site.

Remember cell phone use is prohibited within the work zone and the speed limit remains at 35mph.  Please use extra caution when driving through the project.

Pyott and Rakow Roads Traffic Alert For Next Week

Traffic at the Pyott Road/Rakow Road intersection will be affected by work on Monday night, July 30th, into the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 31st. 

The temporary asphalt ramps that have been in place will be removed.  Work will begin at 7pm Monday night and continue until 5am Tuesday morning. 

During the work, the traffic signals will be set to flashing red and flaggers will be posted at each leg of the intersection.  Although the flaggers will try to minimize the disruptions to traffic as much as possible, please be prepared for delays while this work is performed. 

Thank you for your continued patience.

Moving Along On Rakow Road

Take a look at the awesome photos on the work

New photos have been added to the Photos page!  Click here to view!

Click on photos to enlarge

Modified Traffic Pattern On Pingree Road

The traffic pattern on Pingree Road has been modified – please use care when driving through this area. 

Pingree Road traffic has been shifted to the east to allow the last portion of existing pavement in the northwest corner to be replaced.  Please use extra caution when making turns onto Pingree Road from Rakow because the travel lanes are now east of where they used to be. 

Also, in order to construct the last remaining center section of Rakow Road at IL 31, it will be necessary to remove the temporary asphalt pavement in the radius that is currently in place at the intersection. 

This work will be done Saturday, May 5th –tomorrow-- and will affect the southbound turning movements from IL 31 onto westbound Rakow.  Please use extra care when making this turn.

Rakow Road Construction Resuming

More construction activity on Rakow Road will be resuming in the upcoming weeks. 

The majority of the storm sewers are installed - only a few connections need to be made in the medians and the side streets.  Electrical work for both signals and lighting is starting.  Crews are also preparing for the concrete base in the new westbound lanes. 

Expect new lane configurations starting the week of April 2, 2012 at Ackman, McHenry and Pyott.  Work at the other cross streets will follow. 

Watch for workers, watch for new signal locations and please observe the work zone speed limit and the ban on cell phones in work zones

Please check out www.rakowroad.com for details.

Rakow Road Construction Update

The bike path bridge is in place and winter is here; the contractor will be limited until spring.  Storm sewer work will pick up after additional utility work is completed by ComEd and Comcast. 

The noise abatement wall construction at the northwest corner of Ackman & Randall has potential to begin in the next few weeks. 

Please continue to observe the construction zone speed limit.  Some small crews are working along the corridor - make sure you give yourself room to slow or stop during wintry weather. 

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. 

New photos and videos have been added to the Photos page!  Click here to view!

Latest Rakow Road Work

The south section of the Bike Path Bridge will be installed on Tuesday, January 17th. 

Expect a short delay since this operation closes the eastbound lane while the segment is lifted from the truck and set in place.  Flaggers will help direct traffic around the truck and crane during the offloading process.  Please pay extra attention.

Please check out www.rakowroad.com for details.

Changes For Rakow Road Traffic

On Wednesday, November 23rd, weather permitting, crews will be switching eastbound and westbound Rakow Road traffic onto the new pavement from Alexandra to IL 31. 

 Please be aware of the new travel lanes as you are driving through this area.  As you turn onto Rakow Road from the side streets, remember that you will now be turning onto the new pavement. 

 Expect delays as this work is performed and watch for flaggers.  Remember the work zone speed limit is 35mph. 

Thank you for your patience.

For Driving Ease On Rakow Road

Since construction started, the westbound left turn from Rakow Road into the Crossroads of Crystal Lake shopping center driveway opposite of McHenry Avenue has been restricted; as well as the north and southbound thru-movements from the north and south legs of McHenry Avenue and the shopping center driveway. 

As winter shutdown approaches, these traffic movements will be TEMPORARILY restored.  When construction activities resume in the spring of 2012, the southbound and northbound thru-movements of McHenry Avenue and the shopping center will AGAIN BE RESTRICTED. 

The westbound Rakow left turn movement into the shopping center will be maintained during 2012.  When the project is substantially complete in the fall of 2012, turning movements in all directions will be accommodated at this intersection.

Rakow Road Work Continues

All concrete paving work for Stage 1 is done and the asphalt placement is nearing completion.  Roadway striping and pavement marking on the newly constructed Rakow Road is proceeding this week -- but this does not mean the new lanes are open. 

Please continue to use the existing lanes and be mindful when making turns onto Rakow Road from the intersections.  All traffic will be moved onto the newly constructed south half of Rakow Road by the end of November, weather permitting. After the traffic switch, the contractor will start to remove the old pavement on the north half of Rakow Road.  

Please drive safely and be alert for the upcoming change in traffic patterns. And—don’t forget that the businesses on Rakow Road are still in operation. 

This scene is the location of Three Oaks Recreation Area (TORA) as partially visible on the right. The water on the left is more of the results of gravel mining. 

Changes For Rakow Road Traffic

Tomorrow--Thursday, October 27th, weather permitting, crews will be switching eastbound Rakow Road traffic onto the new pavement from Alexandra to west of Pyott. 

At that point, eastbound traffic will transition back onto the old lanes towards IL Rte 31. 

Westbound traffic will remain in its current location.  Please be aware of the new alignment when driving through this area. 

Remember that the work zone speed limit will remain at 35mph!

Rakow Road Work Continues

Take a look.

The above link shows pictures of Rakow Road work. There is also a plea to not forget the businesses along Rakow Road. They are still open for business and are in need of support at this time. There is access to these businesses. 

Munshaw Drive From Rakow Road Change Takes Place Friday

Access to Munshaw Drive from Rakow Road will change to one-way southbound only beginning Friday, October 14th, weather permitting. 

Prior to the change at Munshaw Drive, access to Mitchell Court from Rakow Road will be re-opened.   The change in access to Munshaw Drive at Rakow Road is anticipated to last 7-10 days, weather permitting. 

The Mitchell Court/Rakow intersection will remain fully open during this time.  

Please click here to see the Munshaw Drive partial closure map.

Changes In Rakow Road Traffic Pattern

On Thursday, October 6th, the traffic patterns on both Ackman/Meredith and McHenry will be changing.  

Traffic will be switched to the opposite side of the road to allow new pavement to be constructed on the half where traffic is currently running.  Be aware of the new lane alignments that will be in place.  It will be necessary to use flaggers as portions of this work is completed, so please be alert when driving through these areas.

Mitchell Court Access From Rakow Road Closed For New Road Work

Access to Mitchell Court from Rakow Road will be closed beginning Thursday, September 29th, weather permitting. 

Access will be closed while the concrete base is poured for the new Rakow Road lanes as well as the small portion of Mitchell Court that is being replaced.  The closure is anticipated to last 7-10 days, weather permitting.  The Munshaw/Rakow intersection will remain fully open during this time. 

Please click here to see the Mitchell Court partial closure map.

Rakow Road Upgrade No Small Task

How big a job is the Rakow Road upgrade project?

A lot of evidence can be seen when traveling along the road—various kinds of piles. However, there are other aspects not as obvious. For one a great deal of effort is involved in replacing, relocating or otherwise improving the underground utilities such as storm sewers, water mains, traffic signal cables, electrical, natural gas, telephone, cable television and fiber optic lines.

As an example, since the Rakow Road project began, the underground contractor has installed 16,660 feet (more than 3 miles) of storm sewer pipe. Imagine this stretched across more than 46 football fields.

The underground work is just a small part of the project. The paving contractors hauled in and placed 33,344 tons of stone for the base of Rakow Road’s new eastbound lanes. That is over 1,660 full truckloads of stone from the local quarries, using local workers to transport, place and compact it.

All this is an inconvenience. However, perhaps we should look toward the end result of driving on a better and less congested road. Additionally, the project also includes the construction of a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Rakow Road for the McHenry County Conservation District Bike Trail just east of Pyott Road.  

Today's Rakow Road Update

Concrete pavement will continue to be placed the next few weeks.  Mainline paving starting at Alexandra, proceeding north and east, will start Thursday, September 15th. 

Smaller intersection pours will also be done.  The concrete needs to be sawcut shortly after it is placed to control cracking.  It may be necessary for some of these sawcuts to be done after normal working hours.  To the extent possible, efforts will be made to minimize the noise disruption. 

The bicycle path will continue to be closed at the south side of Rakow to allow some of these concrete pours to be completed.  It will be reopened by the end of the day on Friday, September 16th. 

Expect traffic delays along the project as this work is done.  Flaggers will be used for these pours so please be alert! 

Thank you for your continued patience.

Rakow Road Paving On Saturday

Concrete paving will begin Saturday, September 10th, at the intersections of Ackman and McHenry.

 Please expect some traffic delays in this area as concrete trucks pull in and out of these intersections.  Paving will continue the week of September 12th at intersections further east as well as on the mainline, starting south of Ackman.  It will be necessary to use flaggers at times to allow the concrete trucks access, so please be alert! 

Thank you for your continued patience.

Also, please support the Rakow Road Businesses!
While construction along the Rakow Road corridor is making good progress, it is a difficult time for many of the Rakow Road businesses.   These businesses are part of the community and are in need of support at this time.  All of these businesses are easily accessible and open for your business.  Please help support these businesses.

Illinois Prairie Path Partial Closure

It will be necessary to continue the closure of a short segment of the Illinois Prairie Path just south of the Rakow/Pyott Road intersection.  The path will be re-opened at some point Friday, September 2nd and will remain open for the holiday weekend.  We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and appreciate your patience.