The pavement on Hibbard Road between Old Glenview Road and Skokie Boulevard is getting torn out and rebuilt from scratch.
Wilmette trustees on Tuesday, June 9, directed village staff to advance the project after more than two years of study and public input.
Jennifer Mitchell, director of preliminary design services at BLA, the civil engineering firm working with the village, told the board the existing road surface has reached the end of its lifecycle.
"It is not salvageable," Mitchell said.
The stretch of Hibbard currently sits under Cook County jurisdiction as a 20-foot roadway within a 100-foot right-of-way, carrying about 2,500 vehicles per day.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has flagged three intersections along the corridor at a medium safety tier due to crashes involving bicycles and vehicles leaving the road and striking fixed objects.
Trustees backed a design alternative featuring dedicated on-street bike lanes and parking on one side of the road, while retaining two travel lanes and the existing sidewalk. A prior option with parking on both sides and an eight-foot sidepath on the east side was rejected by Wilmette's Municipal Services Committee in April following public comment.
The project scope also includes replacing the stormwater pipe network, adding curb and gutter systems, and installing rain gardens and pollinator gardens in the parkway as part of the new stormwater system. Village officials said the current drainage has generated complaints of standing water after heavier rainfalls.
Village President Senta Plunkett called the chosen design a balance between competing priorities after two years of community discussion.
Wilmette collaborated with Cook County to secure an Invest in Cook Grant covering 100% of the preliminary engineering phase. The grant program, now in its tenth year, is distributing $8.5 million across all county infrastructure projects in 2026. The specific dollar amount awarded to the Hibbard Road project has not been disclosed.
Upon completion of construction, the county plans to transfer jurisdiction of the road to Wilmette permanently.
Preliminary engineering work is expected to wrap up in 2026. Detailed design runs from 2027 to 2028. Construction is targeted for 2030, contingent on securing funding.
The village has not released a total construction cost estimate.
North Shore business week ahead
Tuesday, June 23 — Northfield Village Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m., Village Hall, 361 Happ Road. The previously scheduled 5:30 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting has been canceled.
Village officials have estimated a decision on Northfield's proposed TIF district will come in September; both New Trier High School and Sunset Ridge District 29 have formally opposed the plan.
