Hunt Club Road & Stearns School Road Intersection Project Earns ACEC-IL Special Achievement Award

LAKE COUNTY, IL—The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) honored the Hunt Club Road and Stearns School Road Intersection Improvements project with a Special Achievement Award in the Public Engagement/Communication category as part of the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards. The project was recognized for the innovative public engagement process designed to ensure community and stakeholder voices shaped the outcome.

Led by the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT), the project addresses growing traffic volumes, safety concerns and multimodal gaps at a critical intersection serving residents, commuters and visitors near Gurnee Mills Mall. Benesch served as the prime consultant for preliminary engineering and led the development and execution of the public involvement plan.

A key element of the project was its robust and innovative public engagement strategy. Rather than relying solely on traditional outreach methods, the team implemented a comprehensive engagement process that included individual stakeholder meetings along with a 30-day Virtual Public Forum to gather input and refine the design. Social media was used to encourage public participation in both the stakeholder meetings and the forum, helping broaden awareness and engagement.

The 30-day Virtual Public Forum featured interactive maps and surveys, bilingual materials to broaden accessibility and a project video designed to clearly communicate proposed improvements. Engaging visuals and data-driven tools helped the team navigate complex stakeholder needs while building understanding and trust within the community.

Through this collaborative process, the team advanced a preferred alternative that will deliver Lake County’s first multilane roundabout, improving safety and traffic operations while enhancing multimodal connectivity. Benesch continues to support LCDOT through the second phase of design services, helping move the project toward implementation and ensuring community priorities remain integrated into the final design.

The award was presented on February 18 at the ACEC-IL 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala.