The following press released was received from the office of 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan):

Rep. Manzullo:

Transportation Improvements Great News for Motorists, Commuters in CL

Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley talks with 16th District U.S. Representative Don Manzullo at the Pingree train station.

[CRYSTAL LAKE] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) joined several local officials in Crystal Lake this morning to celebrate the opening of two transportation improvements that will benefit area motorists and Metra commuters.

At an early morning news conference at the Pingree Road Metra station, the officials dedicated the opening of the station’s expanded parking lot as well as the nearby improvement to the busy intersection of Crystal Lake Avenue and Pingree Road.

Manzullo secured $1 million in federal funds to help fund the widening, realignment and new traffic signals erected at the busy intersection that was previously regulated by a 4-way stop sign. The project — shared by the City of Crystal Lake, Metra, Algonquin Township, and Nunda Township – was completed last month.

Congressman Don Manzullo talks with Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano and McHenry County Metra Board Member Jack Schaffer in the Pingree Road Station.

“The two improvements we celebrated today will help improve traffic flow through Crystal Lake while making the Pingree Road Metra station more accessible,” Manzullo said. “Traffic congestion continues to be McHenry County’s number one challenge, and I will continue to seek McHenry County’s fair share of federal transportation dollars to help alleviate the back-ups.”

In addition to the intersection project, Manzullo has secured significant federal funding for the Western Bypass of Algonquin ($19 million), the Rakow Road widening project through Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills ($7 million), and the Route 47 widening project through Huntley ($6.7 million). Construction on all three of those projects is scheduled to begin within the next year or two.