Route 45 being repaved in Mundelein, so expect delays

An Illinois Department of Transportation repaving project is creating delays for motorists on a milelong stretch of Route 45 in Mundelein.

The roadwork began Wednesday between Route 176 and Woodlawn Drive. Daily lane closures should be expected, IDOT officials warned in a news release.

In addition to creating a smoother road surface for drivers, crews are improving sidewalks and crossings to make them more easily accessible for people with disabilities.

"As our central corridor, (Route) 45 receives great wear and tear and needs repaving," Mayor Steve Lentz said. "Residents should be very pleased."

The work is expected to cost $1.3 million and conclude this fall, an IDOT spokeswoman said.

Some of the roadway being repaved goes through downtown Mundelein, an area already affected by a significant road project this summer.

A long section of Hawley Street is being widened and repaved as part of a joint village and Lake County project that's set to wrap up in November.

The intersection of Route 45 and Hawley is in both construction zones.

The simultaneous projects are aggravating some merchants in the Hawley Lake Plaza shopping center, which is on the intersection's northwest corner and is itself being remodeled. They say the roadwork causes traffic jams and makes it hard for potential customers to get to their businesses.

"Traffic is backed up all the way every morning," said Quinton Beal, owner of In and Out BBQ. "I see the frustration in the (other) owners' faces."

There's a third big road project going on in Mundelein now, too.

To the northwest, outside of the downtown area, state-funded crews have been working on the intersection of Route 176 and Route 60/83. New turn lanes and new traffic signals are among the changes there.

Trustee Ray Semple acknowledged the projects are disruptive and urged patience.

"Road improvements are something we have needed in town for decades," he said. "Telling the state 'no thanks' was not an option as we need these roads fixed -- the sooner the better."