Officials hope that continuing the battle will let them win the war for two traffic lights even though they have been rebuffed by agencies with jurisdiction over the intersections.
The state has refused to allow a light at Barrington Road and Sycamore Avenue despite village complaints about hazards to pedestrians and motorists. Heavy traffic at the corner includes children traveling to and from a nearby ball field.
“We’re concerned about the safety of those youths,” said village manager Marc Hummel.
Better access to the intersection is needed both by nearby residents and workers of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which has offered to pay for 25 percent of the work, Hummel said.
Village officials also want a light at County Farm Road and Wildwood Lane, but that proposal was rejected by Du Page County. The village also would widen County Farm by 12 feet.
The two projects would start next year and cost an estimated $308,000, which the village would pay except for the contribution by the water reclamation district, Hummel said. Funds exist within the budget, Hummel said.
The need for the lights was identified by a village feasibility study completed in June.
Hummel said the dispute hinges on conflicting needs-the village’s desire for safety and local access versus an emphasis on low travel times by the larger agencies.
