A leading opponent of the proposal to extend Illinois Highway 53 into central Lake County is accusing state transportation officials of erroneously touting the proposed tollway as a means of reducing congestion.

In response, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority officials said the agency's ongoing environmental impact study will thoroughly examine the road's impact. The study, necessary to win federal approval for the project, could be released by year's end.

The proposed 18-mile extension would run north from Lake-Cook Road in Arlington Heights to Illinois Highway 120 near Gurnee, where it would split in two directions, east toward the Tri-State Tollway and west into McHenry County.