A fresh look at a 35-year-old roadway will transform it to a multi-modal facility at low cost and with no additional impervious surface

Bicycle and Pedestrian Upgrades - Bell Works Chicagoland

When Inspired by Somerset Development embarked on its vision for this 150-acre (61 hectare) property, the company knew the property’s potential to become a modern live-work-play destination. An existing, 3,600-foot (one kilometre), four-lane Center Drive, originally designed for a corporate campus, now needed to creatively serve today’s commuters and residents.

Collaborating closely with the municipality and developer, we undertook upgrading the roadway for improved bicycle and pedestrian connections, while also addressing cost implications. A Stantec-led traffic study showed that vehicles going to and from Bell Works Chicagoland could be adequately served by a single two-lane roadway, freeing the remaining lanes for reuse. The team quickly understood that restriping these lanes could turn this pavement into bi-directional bike lanes and a buffered pedestrian walkway.

The team implemented intersection upgrades and added roundabout-style pedestrian crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety during crossings. The new path will also connect to the existing bike-pedestrian network, allowing travel between a nearby bus stop and nature preserve through the Bell Works site--all with no additional impervious surface.