The Public Works and Transportation Committee approved a phase‑1 professional engineering services agreement on Oct. 8 with GFT Infrastructure Inc. for study of Gages Lake Road from U.S. Route 45 to Illinois Route 21 and portions of U.S. Route 45. The contract maximum is $3,237,837; the committee appropriated $3,885,000 of motor fuel tax funds for the effort.

Shane Schneider, county engineer, said the study will examine corridor cross sections, intersection improvements (including Hunt Club and Almond), school and bus‑related entrances, and feasibility of nonmotorized connections. College of Lake County (CLC) had recently requested a potential connection from Gages Lake Road west through a ComEd easement to tie into campus trails; the study will evaluate that and possible links to Center Street and Washington Street where planned bicycle facilities are coming online.

Staff noted that phase‑1 is a planning/feasibility step: design and land acquisition could take years if the county pursues off‑road nonmotorized facilities. The committee approved the contract and appropriation by voice vote.