Will County Board members have revisited the idea of constructing a new bridge over the Des Plaines River Valley. This proposal was set aside four years ago due to financial constraints faced by the county and surrounding municipalities. In 2022, building the bridge and enhancing an 11-mile corridor through Crest Hill, Lockport, and Homer and Lockport Townships was estimated to cost about $617.6 million. Jeff Ronaldson, director of the Will County Division of Transportation, believes the cost has likely risen since.
The Illinois Department of Transportation showed no interest in funding the project, and municipalities or townships couldn’t afford to shoulder part of the expenses either. Discussions around the Caton Farm-Bruce Road Regional Transportation Corridor have been ongoing for over 25 years. This proposal includes a bridge spanning the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Des Plaines River, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal.
Initiated in 2001, several years went into analyzing roadway alignments. In 2022, the County Board opted to convert the initiative into a planning and environmental linkages study. This decision paused the project but allows officials to resume from where they left off without starting anew, according to Ronaldson. However, some existing data may be outdated.
Board members believe renewed discussions are essential, especially with the imminent construction work on the 9th Street Bridge near downtown Lockport. Other crossings in the region include Romeoville and Joliet. A new bridge cannot be built before the 9th Street Bridge construction commences; however, board members seek solutions for bottlenecks, travel delays, and rising traffic in the area. Traffic problems will persist, noted board member Dave Oxley. He highlighted how congestion affects emergency services such as fire departments and paramedics.
A special meeting was convened on Thursday to restart talks. Vice-chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee, Mark Revis, proposed forming a committee to explore the project. Alternatively, board members could appeal to state and federal lawmakers for funding. Will County Board members discussed the resurrected plan during a meeting on October 1 in Joliet.
“This is a perfect opportunity for us to be bridge builders,” said Revis, emphasizing uniting local municipalities, government units, fire departments, park districts, forest preserves, and businesses to alleviate consistent traffic bottlenecks in central Will County.
The proposed 11-mile corridor would link U.S. Route 30, Gaylord Road, and Caton Farm Road in Crest Hill with Cedar Road and 159th Street in Homer Glen. The project requires approximately 157 acres for right-of-way acquisitions encompassing land used for agriculture, commerce, and housing. Revis noted schools, businesses, forest preserves, churches, and cemeteries dot the corridor. Infrastructure improvements on both sides of the river are essential for traffic to move efficiently to and from the proposed bridge, Ronaldson stated.
Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman reiterated the city’s unchanged stance from four years ago. Crest Hill cannot fund its share of the bridge and corridor improvements, especially while financing another large-scale project to supply Lake Michigan water to residents. Soliman welcomed renewed discussions, emphasizing the necessity for Will County or IDOT sponsorship of the project.
The board offered potential solutions to make the project workable, noting that financing and identifying responsible entities for payment are crucial. Board member Steve Balich suggested that the bridge could operate as a toll road, proposing partnerships with the Illinois Tollway. Julie Berkowicz advocated for lobbying federal and state representatives for funding.
Democratic Leader Sherry Williams expressed concerns over potential negative impacts on Lockport Township’s Fairmont community, comprising approximately 800 homes. She raised issues about a new road bisecting the neighborhood. Like Revis, Williams agreed on avoiding adverse effects on Fairmont.