Will County News

At a June 17, 2015 of the Elwood International Port Authority, Salvatore Di Bernardo, Executive Vice President of Ciorba Group, Consulting Engineers, gave a presentation on a Houbolt Road Bridge over the Des Plaines River.  After the presentation, audience members working in the logistics and rail industries in Will County and Village of Elwood officials discussed how a potential Houbolt Road Bridge might affect truck traffic in Will County:

The Environmental Law and Policy Center issued the following release today after a ruling by Federal Judge Jorge Alonso: "Chicago—The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a strong decision declaring the federal and state transportation agencies’ approvals of the proposed Illiana Tollway to be illegal. “The Federal Court decision is a big victory for the Environmental Law & Policy Center and our clients and for sensible transportation planning and priorities,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We are very pleased the Federal District Court has ruled in our favor, which should bring the boondoggle proposed Illiana Tollway to an end.” The Federal District Court held that the Federal Highway Administration’s and Illinois Department of Transportation’s approvals of the final Tier One Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) were “arbitrary and capricious and in vio...

A presentation on a "Houbolt Bridge" is on the Agenda for the June 17, 2015 5:00 p.m. meeting of the Elwood International Port Authority.   The Elwood International Port Authority meets at the Elwood Village Hall--401 Mississippi in Elwood. The Houbolt Bridge has been proposed as a way to route trucks from the Elwood and Joliet Intermodals onto I-80.  It has been suggested that a Houbolt Bridge would relieve traffic on Laraway, Route 53, and other roads. Here is the agenda for the meeting, from the Village of Elwood's website: AGENDA ELWOOD INTERNATIONAL PORT AUTHORITY MEETING Wednesday, June 17, 2015 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PLEDGE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENTS (limited to two (2) minutes per person) ICC Update Traffic Patterns Seasonal Issues Elwood International Port Directional/Way Finder Signs OJT (On the Job Training) Hiring Grant – Nisha Floyd Houbolt Br...

By Mary Baskerville MANHATTAN—The governor’s announcement to suspend work on the Illiana Expressway puts Manhattan in the position of waiting for transportation solutions.  “The problem is all the towns and municipalities are caught in this tug-of-war between the governor and the legislators,” Mayor James Doyle said. “With everybody—it’s wait and see.” The Illiana would help relieve heavy truck traffic through the center of town, Doyle said. Meanwhile, the Village of Manhattan continues to see about a ten percent increase in heavy truck traffic travel on U.S. Route 52 in the wake of the closing of Walter Strawn Drive in Elwood, he said. Citing a lack of money, the governor’s office said in a news release Tuesday that the Illiana would be taken off the current multi-year plan list. The release went on to say: “It is the determination of IDOT that the project costs exceed currently available resources. The Department will begin the process of suspending all existing ...

Governor Rauner issued a news release outlining steps his administration is taking "to begin balancing the phony Madigan-Cullerton budget." The Illiana Expressway was included on the list of steps the Governor will take :  "In light of the state's current fiscal crisis and a lack of sufficient capital resources, the Illiana Expressway will not move forward at this time. As a result, the Illinois Department of Transportation will remove the project from its current multi-year plan. It is the determination of IDOT that the project costs exceed currently available resources. The Department will begin the process of suspending all existing project contracts and procurements." The Sierra Club released the following statement in response to Rauner's decision: "We're pleased that IDOT has heard the concerns of farmers, local officials and business owners. This project would not only waste taxpayer money, but would disrupt their way of life. We...

Will County is inviting citizens to share their thoughts on the county's transportation future. Will County is creating a long-range transportation plan--Will Connects 2040-- which will delineate how the county will use transportation resources. Will County gained population during the housing boom.  Furthermore, Will County is home to two intermodals that together comprise the largest inland port in North America.  At the open house, the public will be able to provide input on how to prioritize solutions to the increased traffic. The dates and times of the open houses are: April 28, 4-7pm Joliet Junior College 1215 Houbolt Road Concourse C*1031 Joliet, IL 60431 April 29,4-7pm Wilmington City Hall Council Chambers 1165 S. Water Street Wilmington, IL 60481 May 5, 4-7pm New Lenox Village Hall Community Room 1 Veterans Parkway New Lenox, IL 60451 May 12, 4-7pm Governors State University Hall of Honors One University Parkway University Park, IL...

The Forest Preserve District of Will County's  Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville documents the history of the 1700's in the land that is now Illinois.  The museum features exhibits on the Great Lakes Fur Trade and the Potawatomi Native Americans.  The museum recently added a mural by artist  Jeanine Hattas Wilson.   Museum Supervisor Chris Gutmann sent Wilson photos of items on display at the Museum, including its birch bark canoe, and she incorporated them into the mural. The scene is set on the Des Plaines River, as is the museum, and a Potawatomi summer lodge sits across the river in the mural’s background. “That’s definitely my favorite thing to do, working in a museum and public spaces,” she said. “Using murals is a great way to tell historical stories. You want to capture a feeling for a moment. You’re capturing the story in one shot.” The mural cost $9,900 and was paid for with funds from the Forest Preserve's operating fund. Video of the...