Collins Road extension project now finished, road has reopened to public

The extension of Collins Road near Oswego is now finished and the road has reopened to the public.

The $14 million project included the extension of Collins from Grove Road west to Minkler Road as well as the complete reconstruction and widening of Minkler from Collins north to Route 71. Construction began last year.

The Collins Road intersections with both Grove and Minkler roads are designed as roundabouts. The circular intersections allow traffic to flow in one direction around a central island, eliminating the need for a traffic signal in a configuration regarded as much safer for motorists.

Kendall County Highway Engineer Fran Klaas told Kendall County Board members at their Dec. 17 meeting that the project is not totally finished.

“There’s landscaping and some other minor things that will have to be done in the spring, including the multi-use path,” he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts substantially reduce crashes that result in serious injury or death. As part of a $10.7 million project to improve safety and ease traffic congestion, Wolfs Crossing last year was widened to four lanes from Harvey Road to Devoe Drive and the four-way intersection at Wolfs Crossing and Harvey Road was replaced with Oswego’s first roundabout.

The second segment of the project will be improvements at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas Road. Another roundabout will be built as part of the project.

Construction is set to begin in spring 2025.