Petition to Keep Bradford Lane Open to Through Traffic

We, the undersigned residents and community members of Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, and Cary, respectfully petition the Village to keep Bradford Lane open to through traffic and avoid any future closures.

We understand and respect the concerns regarding vehicle speeds on Bradford Lane and appreciate the Village’s responsibility to improve safety throughout the community. Our goal is the same: creating safer roads for residents, students, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

However, the previous closure of Bradford Lane demonstrated that closing an important roadway connection created significant unintended consequences. Rather than solving the underlying concerns, the closure shifted traffic problems to other areas, including surrounding neighborhoods and the area around the school.

We respectfully ask the Village to consider solutions that directly address speeding while keeping Bradford Lane open and maintaining safe, efficient traffic flow throughout the community.

The Previous Closure Created New Problems

Bradford Lane was previously closed during the school year due to concerns regarding vehicle speeds. While those concerns deserve consideration, the results of the closure showed that removing a roadway connection did not eliminate traffic—it simply changed where that traffic traveled.

During the closure, vehicles that normally used Bradford Lane were redirected onto surrounding streets and toward the school. This created increased congestion, longer delays, and additional traffic in areas already experiencing heavy activity during student arrival and dismissal times.

The closure resulted in more vehicles traveling near students, parents, school buses, pedestrians, and cyclists. Instead of reducing safety concerns, it created new challenges by concentrating more traffic into already busy areas.

The previous closure provided a clear example that closing a roadway does not make traffic disappear. It only moves the problem somewhere else.

The Closure Does Not Improve Construction Progress

It is important to recognize that closing Bradford Lane does not improve or accelerate construction progress. The closure was not required for construction operations and does not provide a direct benefit toward completing the project.

The closure was implemented as a response to concerns regarding traffic and vehicle speeds. While concerns from residents living along Bradford Lane deserve to be heard, decisions involving public roadways must consider the impact on the entire community.

A roadway closure affecting thousands of residents, commuters, families, businesses, school traffic, and emergency responders should be evaluated based on the overall impact it creates.

Public roads exist to serve the broader community. A solution that benefits a limited area should not create larger problems for surrounding neighborhoods and public safety.

Detour Signs Do Not Solve Traffic Problems

It has been suggested that detour signs directing motorists to routes such as Lakewood Road and Ackman Road can adequately manage traffic during a closure. However, the previous closure demonstrated that detour signs alone do not control driver behavior.

Last year proved that many drivers saw the posted detour signs but continued searching for routes they believed were faster or more convenient. Whether through personal knowledge of the area or GPS navigation, motorists naturally chose routes that reduced their travel time.

This is an important reality when making traffic decisions. Drivers do not always follow the route that is posted—they follow the route that gets them to their destination most efficiently.

The result of the previous closure was not less traffic. Instead, traffic was redirected onto surrounding residential streets and areas near the school, creating additional congestion and safety concerns.

Any traffic plan must consider actual driver behavior, not just the expectation that signage alone will successfully redirect thousands of vehicles.

School Safety and Increasing E-Bike Use

One of the biggest concerns with another closure is the impact it could have on traffic around the school.

The previous closure contributed to increased congestion near the school during arrival and dismissal times. Adding more vehicles into these areas creates additional interactions between drivers, students, pedestrians, school buses, and crossing areas.

At the same time, e-bikes and other personal mobility devices have become increasingly popular among students. While regulations exist regarding their use, the reality is that e-bike use is not going away due to its growing popularity.

Traffic planning must recognize this change and account for the increasing number of students traveling by e-bike, bicycle, scooter, or other similar devices.

Creating additional vehicle congestion around the school increases the number of potential conflicts between vehicles and young riders. The shared goal of the Village, school district, and community should be preventing injuries before they occur.

We do not want to wait until a child is hurt to recognize that traffic patterns around the school need to be carefully considered.

Maintaining Emergency Access

Bradford Lane also serves as an important connection for police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Maintaining roadway connectivity provides first responders with additional options during emergencies. Having multiple access points helps ensure emergency personnel can reach those in need as quickly and safely as possible.

For example, if Bradford Lane is closed, a first responder on Randall Road will have to detour approximately 5 minuets to get to Ken Carpenter Park. 

Keeping Bradford Lane open benefits the entire community by maintaining flexibility and improving access when seconds matter.

Better, Cost-Effective Solutions Are Available

The Village does not have to choose between safety and keeping Bradford Lane open.

If speeding is the concern, temporary and cost-effective traffic-calming solutions can be implemented that directly address the problem without creating the unintended consequences of a closure.

Possible solutions include:

• Temporary drill in speed humps

• Speed feedback signs

• Additional warning signage

• Increased traffic enforcement during peak hours

These solutions focus on the actual concern—vehicle speeds—while allowing Bradford Lane to remain open for residents, school traffic, commuters, businesses, and emergency responders.

Temporary solutions also allow the Village to evaluate effectiveness, make adjustments, and determine what works best without creating unnecessary impacts throughout the community.

Our Request

We respectfully ask the Village to keep Bradford Lane open to through traffic and avoid future closures as a solution to speeding concerns.

The previous closure demonstrated that closing Bradford Lane did not eliminate traffic issues. Instead, it shifted traffic into other locations, increased congestion near the school, and created additional challenges for residents, commuters, and families.

A safer community is achieved through solutions that work for everyone. By keeping Bradford Lane open and implementing appropriate traffic-calming measures, the Village can address safety concerns while maintaining connectivity throughout the community.

Please sign and share this petition. Even if you do not regularly use Bradford Lane, the effects of a closure extend beyond one roadway. They impact surrounding neighborhoods, school operations, emergency response, commuters, and everyone who travels through the area.

Together, we can support a solution that improves safety, protects our children, and keeps our community connected without creating new problems elsewhere.