Lake County board member praises $9.1 million investment into bike path

Chicago Tribune

13-06-2025

Lake County approved a $9.1 million contract to pave just over 12 miles of the Robert McClory Bike Path, with additional future crossing improvements planned in the future.
The 25-mile trail, named after the eponymous Illinois State Representative in the late 1990s, was formerly a rail line between Chicago and Milwaukee. The sections in question run from Russell Road to Broadway Avenue and from Old Elm Road to Vine Avenue. Work includes paving the gravel path with asphalt, resurfacing existing asphalt, concrete repairs, ADA upgrades, drainage improvements and increased local connectivity, according to county documents.
District 15 County Board Member Jennifer Clark lauded the benefits the work, which is planned to begin this summer and be completed later this year, will bring to the trail. Paving will reduce stormwater issues, she said.
'As anyone who knows who has ridden that trail, parts of the gravel tend to wash out during storms and over the winter due to snow and ice,' Clark said. 'This will ensure a smooth ride for everyone.'
The county has also worked with neighbors and local municipalities to identify connecting trails to the path, some of them unofficial, to help improve accessibility, Clark said. There are also plans, potentially for next summer, to improve several crossings along the path.
Clark said the work is part of a broader effort by the county to focus on improving non-motorized connections, primarily to address safety concerns over an uptick in injuries and fatalities relating to pedestrians and bicycle riders.
'We really have changed our focus from only looking at bike paths or sidewalk improvements for select areas of Lake County to now we are doing it standard with everything,' Clark said. 'Every time a road or an area comes up for a rebuild, we look at improving existing facilities or adding new ones.'
The work has recreational and resident enjoyment benefits as well, and can help reduce commuter traffic, she said.
'I can't tell you how many people have told me they moved to Lake County because of the bike trails and the forests,' Clark said.
Lake County has over 550 miles of trails and bikeways, according to the Lake County Department of Transportation.