Politics & Government

Route 30 Construction: Where's the Turn Lanes?

Residents got an up-close look at the Route 30 widening plans during an open house Tuesday evening.

Forget the headache driving down Route 30 will cause for the next year and a half. Residents who came for a look at the road's long-awaited widening plans were more interested in where they can turn when the construction is complete.

At least 50 area residents came to an open house in New Lenox's Village Hall on Tuesday for an up-close look at the plans to widen Route 30 to four lanes between William Street in New Lenox and Harlem Avenue in Frankfort. People with questions were able to talk directly with a village staffer or official from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A majority of the questions focused on the project's timeline and other upgrades such as traffic signals and turn lanes.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When will construction start?

As you've probably seen, some work has already started. That's mostly to relocate utility lines, and there's been a bit of a hold up to the project's progress because of that. Whether it's Comcast, Nicor Gas, ComEd or another utility provider, "one of those folks is in the way,” village engineer Will Nash said.

Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After utility lines are sorted out, other pre-stage work will be completed, including the construction of temporary pavement. IDOT hoped to get to the first stage of its project, construction of the westbound lanes, this year but isn't so sure it will do that because of the utility work and weather, IDOT engineer Ray Parnell said. Even so, the projected is expected to stay on schedule for a majority of completion by late 2012.

Where will new traffic signals be?

In New Lenox, there will be a new traffic signal at Joliet Highway/West Circle Drive and Route 30. The temporary signal at Marley Road will become permanent, and existing signals and Vancina/Retail Drive and Schoolhouse Road will be updated.

Will there be new turn lanes?

In New Lenox, there will be dedicated left-turn lanes at Spencer Road, Anderson Road and Lincolnway Drive. At Schoolhouse Road and Route 30, there will be a right-turn lane for northbound traffic on Schoolhouse to turn east onto 30. Finally, there will be a left-turn lane on Route 30 to turn into Bluestone Bay Drive.

For more information...

Nash said the villages of Frankfort and Mokena might hold similar open house events this summer. All three villages have the road construction plans on hand for residents to view. Go to IDOT's website for more information about the project


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