A $26 million Kane County project to extend Dauberman Road over Route 30 and the nearby railroad tracks in Big Rock is nearly complete, county officials announced Tuesday at a ribbon cutting.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dauberman Road Extension Project comes around a year and a half after construction began on the project, according to a news release about the ceremony. County officials said during the ceremony that the road extension project will improve accessibility and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in the area.
“Kane County truly, truly values its rural communities,” County Board Chair Corrine Pierog said at the ceremony. “This project reflects that commitment.”
Once completed, the project will connect Dauberman Road from where it previously ended at Route 30 to Granart Road using two bridges that pass over Route 30 and the nearby BNSF railroad.
County officials said after the ceremony that, based on the pace of construction, the Dauberman Road extension is expected to be open by the end of October.
The project will help to reduce traffic congestion in the area, particularly by “taking pressure” off of the Dugan Road and Route 30 intersection, according to County Engineer Carl Schoedel.
He said the road will also be the only place in Big Rock to get over the BNSF railroad instead of having to cross at railroad crossings.
This will help improve emergency response times — by avoiding train delays — and increase safety for school buses, Pierog said.
According to Pierog, the project will improve safety for drivers as well as pedestrians and cyclists, as there will be a sidewalk along the length of the elevated roadway.
The project is part of the county’s larger vision for north-south travel, Schoedel said.
Funding for the project was primarily from almost $17 million the county received through a variety of state and federal grants, according to Schoedel. Officials said the total cost of the project is expected to be around $26 million, with construction costs totaling $22 million.
Pierog used her speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony to voice her opposition to those calling for budget cuts to the Kane County Department of Transportation. The cuts were recommended by the Kane County Finance Committee but are not included in the draft 2025 budget currently on public display.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by a number of County Board members, county staff members and representatives from nearby communities, among others.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com