New bus turnaround to be built at Adler Park School

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:27AM

After months of negotiations with the village of Libertyville and Lake County Forest Preserve District, Libertyville School District 70 has reached an agreement for the installation of a new bus turnaround near the rear of Adler Park School.

District 70 school officials halted construction on a proposed bus turnaround at the school last August because of concerns by parents and community members about encroachment on an adjacent ballfield in Adler Park and a playground area behind the school.

District 70 Superintendent Guy Schumacher said under the new plan the bus turnaround will be moved farther east in order to alleviate those concerns.

Schumacher said the district reached an easement agreement which will allow it construct the bus turnaround on property owned by the village and Lake County Forest Preserve, which maintains an easement for property along the Des Plaines River Trail.

“We’re glad it worked out between the school district, the village and forest preserve district as we worked together to bring this to fruition for the benefit of the kids,” he said.

Schumacher said the district is proposing a bus turnaround at the rear of the school in order to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety at the front of the school as construction gets underway on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s proposed widening of Milwaukee Avenue. Currently, buses have difficulty finding space in front of the school during morning and afternoon peak hours, when parents are picking up and dropping off their children.

With the proposed bus turnaround at the rear of the school, Schumacher said buses will be able to enter at the traffic signal near Adler Park, loop around behind the school and then exit at the traffic light.

“We wanted to make sure we have a place for that (bus turnaround) to get students in and out safely,” he said. “The plans for it are very nice. We’re looking to put in some nice lighting for safety and security. This should also open up additional parking for school events in the turnaround as well.”

The estimated cost for constructing the bus turnaround is $286,326. Schumacher said he hopes construction will get underway in early spring, with anticipated completion sometime this summer.