Island Lake, IL – Drivers in Island Lake and surrounding McHenry County areas should plan for extra travel time as ongoing construction along Route 176 continues to cause significant traffic delays, according to local police.
According to the Island Lake Police Department, the road work—managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)—is expected to last through December. The department acknowledged the inconvenience to residents and commuters but emphasized that traffic control is handled by IDOT crews and flaggers, not local law enforcement.
Police noted they’ve received multiple calls from frustrated drivers but stressed that any complaints about signal timing or lane direction should be directed to IDOT. “Please be cautious and focus on the direction given by the workers, to avoid an accident,” the department stated.
The Route 176 construction project, which spans a busy commuter corridor between Wauconda and Crystal Lake, has led to lane reductions and intermittent full stops during daytime work hours. IDOT reports that crews are working to complete resurfacing and infrastructure upgrades before winter weather sets in.
Motorists are advised to allow for delays and consider alternate routes where possible. Updates on the project can be found on IDOT’s official website.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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