Shoppers at Orland Park Costco should prepare for continued construction, as work progresses on an expanded gas station and a new roundabout at the store’s exit. The project coincides with the development of the Amazon retail center and the village’s Ravinia Avenue extension. This extension will connect the retail center to Costco through the new roundabout.
Orland Park engineering director Khurshid Hoda explained the decision to undertake these projects simultaneously. “We thought if they are all happening at the same time, yes it is a bigger pain, but then we will come out of it and then be done with it,” he said. The approach avoids sequential disruptions, shortening the overall construction period.
The Village Board approved Costco’s construction plans about a year ago due to significant growth in membership and sales. The current store, at 9915 W. 159th St., opened in 2006. As part of the plan, the gas station will move away from the store, west of Ravinia Avenue, and will feature 32 pumps, with potential for future expansion.
Construction on the roundabout and the Ravinia Avenue extension to 161st Street is expected to finish by the end of this year. However, the new gas station likely won’t open until sometime next year, according to Hoda. Once the new gas station is operational, the old station will be demolished to create more parking.
Hoda shared that the Orland Park Costco ranks second in sales volume within the state and might reach the top spot after the gas station expansion. Initially, Costco considered stop signs for traffic control, but the village insisted on a roundabout for more effective management.
The roundabout will direct traffic toward the expanded gas station and 159th Street. A new lane will also guide vehicles into the parking lot, and shoppers will exit through the roundabout. The design accommodates large vehicles such as 18-wheelers and emergency services.
The Amazon retail center, nearly 230,000 square feet in size, will be accessible via the roundabout once the Ravinia Avenue extension is complete. This extension could divert up to 25% of traffic from the congested intersection of 159th Street and LaGrange Road.
During a Plan Commission meeting, Amazon’s legal representative Katie Jahnke Dale described the new retail space as pioneering. The concept offers an immersive shopping experience where customers can use their phones or in-store kiosks to locate items and order products for vehicle delivery. The development will allocate six acres for open space and landscaping, alongside a stormwater detention area.
Retail visitors will access the center from 159th Street, LaGrange Road, or 161st Street, while delivery drivers will enter from the south or west, coming off 161st Street. The store’s opening is slated for late next year.