Annie Glidden Road, between I-88 and Lincoln Highway, may be on its way to a long and expensive renovation.

Last week, DeKalb City Council discussed the construction goals, costs and necessary time and resources to complete the project.

“We’ve approved an engineering study with Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick of Elgin,” City Manager Jim Connors said. “The preliminary study would cost $755,948.96 and span from Route 38 to Fairview Avenue.”

The engineering study will evaluate Annie Glidden Road as it is now and determine what environmental, local and federal guidelines would have to be met and what limitations there would be for this project.

“There are farmland impact reviews, sewer line evaluations and environmental design reports,” said Ralph Tompkins, director of Public Works. “There are many studies and reports to work through and meet before construction on Annie Glidden can begin.”

The study and evaluation stage will range from 18 to 24 months. Construction will begin once funding has been allocated from state and federal grants.

“The construction as planned out now would cost about $11 million,” Tompkins said. “It would be done in phases and would take about three or four years to complete.”

The main goal of the project is the widening and reinforcing of Annie Glidden Road.

The final product will be a four lane road with turn lane additions at key intersections and traffic signals for Taylor Street.

To keep traffic flowing, the construction would focus on two lanes at a time.

Although nothing has been officially approved yet, design concepts for this project would include lighting, sidewalks, bike paths, landscaping and fencing.

The idea many officials have in mind for this project is to make Annie Glidden a grand entrance into DeKalb.

“It would be along the lines of the Castle Drive entrance to NIU,” Tompkins said.

The project also focuses on alleviating traffic that occurs during NIU move-in days and other high traffic times during the year.

“Most of the traffic backups coming into DeKalb from Annie Glidden start at Taylor Street,” Tompkins said. “During construction, we have some temporary measures ready to alleviate backup until we can set up a more permanent solution.”

Turn lanes and traffic signals may be put in around key intersections before the project begins in full.