Project Overview

CBBEL was hired by the Village of Mount Prospect to identify and evaluate alternatives to improve congestion, safety and pedestrian accessibility at the intersections of Rand Road, Central Road and Mount Prospect Road. The intersections faced near-total gridlock at the busiest times of day, drastically increasing travel times and creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and motorists.

Traffic flow was improved on all three roadways by adding or extending auxiliary turn lanes to increase the storage and movement of vehicular traffic into and out of nearby retail areas. New pavement markings, signage, roadway lighting and modernized traffic signals helped to cement the improvements and new roadway usage. One of the cornerstones of the project was the installation of a single Traffic Signal Controller, which replaced three individual controllers for the major intersections. Installing this single controller led to significant challenges during the construction phase, as nine separate private utility companies were required to move infrastructure to accommodate the new underground conduits required for the traffic signal controller.

The completion of the Rand/Central/Mount Prospect Road Intersection Improvements project represents a significant investment by the Village of Mount Prospect in improving the safety and usability of a major intersection along its economically and socially significant Rand Road corridor. The project was completed within the Village’s timeframe and under budget, while the improvements resulted in significant benefits to traffic in the area, including an almost 45% decrease in total delay in the study area and a 30% decrease in travel time during the evening rush hour.