Route 31 Road Diet Project To Be Completed By End Of October

BATAVIA, IL — Plans are underway to install a road diet on Route 31 in Batavia.

The road diet will be in place from Fabyan Parkway to Mooseheart Road, excluding the section between Houston Street and Elm Street.

The project is intended to enhance the safety of everyone who uses the road, specifically pedestrians and cyclists, by reducing the number of lanes and implementing a center turn lane, officials said. The configuration should also improve traffic flow and reduce crashes.

Currently, Route 31 has two lanes in each direction and no center turn lane. After, the road will consist of one lane of travel in each direction as well as the dedicated center turn lane.

Construction, which began Sept. 30, entails at least one traffic lane remaining open in each direction. The scope includes Superior Striping, the city's contractor, removing existing pavement markings using water-blasting technology, removing raised reflective pavement markers and painting temporary striping. New raised pavement markers will also placed throughout the project area.

City officials cited the following as benefits of the road diet:

• Crash reduction: The addition of a center turn lane is expected to decrease left turn, rear-end, and sideswipe collisions. The City of Batavia’s engineering consultant, TranSystems, estimates a 27% reduction in crashes following implementation.
• Improved walkability: Fewer lanes and increased distance between traffic and sidewalks will make crossing safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Traffic calming: The road diet will help regulate speeds, creating a smoother and more consistent flow of traffic.
• Easier access: The project will make it easier to access homes, schools, and businesses. Side street traffic, especially those making left turns, will find it easier to enter the main roadway due to fewer lanes.

The city is eyeing Oct. 31 as the day the project will be completed.