Construction season is here

Plan to give yourself several extra minutes of travel time each day if you want to reach your destination on time.

The next few months are road construction season, and this summer there will be more projects than usual because of federal stimulus money and a state capital plan.

But the minor inconveniences that motorists will see this summer are a long-term benefit for the area.

Keep that in mind if you’re regularly stalled in construction zones. Proper planning and patience are key. Depending on how long your commute is, plan to leave home earlier to make up for any delays.

And don’t get frustrated. There’s nothing you can do about it, so there’s no point in allowing yourself to get upset over it.

Among the areas where road projects in McHenry County are either already in progress or scheduled:

• Route 31 from Route 12 to McCullom Lake Road in McHenry;

• Route 47 from Route 120 to Route 176 in Woodstock;

• Route 14 from Bunker Hill Road to Park Lane Drive in Harvard;

• Route 47 in Hebron;

• Route 173 from Alden Road to the Lake County line;

• Route 12 from the Wisconsin state line to Route 173, and from Route 31 to the county line;

• Route 14 near McHenry County College;

• The intersection of Routes 31 and 176 in Crystal Lake;

• Allendale Road bridge in Greenwood Township;

• Route 23 between Harvard and Marengo, which has been closed to through traffic since last month while workers replace the bridges over the Kishwaukee River.