Long-awaited traffic signals at the intersection of Galvin Drive and Route 72, near Dundee Middle School, are to be activated Wednesday.
Although the roadway falls into Elgin’s jurisdiction, it provides access to the West Dundee school to the north. Galvin Drive also is the primary access point to the Interstate Partners’ industrial and business park to the south.
“It’s a relief,” West Dundee Police Chief Andrew Wieteska said. “The parents have been asking for it. We supported the light. It’s good to finally see. Anytime you have to put a police officer on a busy highway to direct traffic there’s obviously inherent dangers in that.”
Elgin made getting traffic signals at the intersection a priority about six years ago, according to city documents. The Kane County Highway Department contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2011 to determine the feasibility of installing the signals. The state authorized it about a year later.
West Dundee police have been directing afternoon rush-hour traffic since 2009 when school is in session.
“Because kids from our community attend that school, we agreed to provide traffic control,” Wieteska said. “And as long as we’ve been directing traffic, parents have been pushing for a light.”
Assigning an officer to the intersection cost about $75 a day, he said.
The funding was split between District 300 and Durham Bus Services, according to information on District 300’s website.
Also contributing was the city of Elgin. In 2015, the District 300 school board approved an intergovernmental with Elgin to contribute $50,000 toward the nearly $370,000 project. Elgin’s share will come from its share of Grand Victoria Casino taxes.
Wieteska said there will likely be “a little transition time” while adjusting to the new light.
“And we’ll facilitate that,” he said. “We’ll continue to help with the traffic until the end of the month.”
Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
