Village Using Grant Money for Sidewalk, Road Projects

The Village Board recently approved two projects that could make New Lenox safer for drivers and pedestrians. 

At its Monday meeting, the board approved two separate contracts: one for engineering work for sidewalks along a stretch of Route 30 and another for constructing safety grip roads near Joliet Highway and Schoolhouse Road.

Both projects will be paid in full using part of a $300,000 grant the village received. 

Route 30 Sidewalks

Cost of contract: $10,000 for the engineering contract with HR Green Inc. of New Lenox. Village engineer Will Nash estimates that the installation will will cost about $30,000. 

Scope: About 750 feet of sidewalk will be installed on the north side of Route 30. It will connect with the existing sidewalk that ends just east of the Wabash Railroad bridge and go west to connect with the sidewalk in front of the . There is another small portion of sidewalk that will be built between and Pit Stop. 

Why is this needed? "It's an area that absolutely needs it," trustee Ray Tuminello said at a previous committee meeting. "There's a lot of people who come over that way who go to the Walmart area now."

Joliet Highway Road Grip

Cost of contract: The board approved a $37,620 contract with Traffic Management USA. That will pay for the installation of high-friction surfacing.

Scope: The high-friction surfacing will be installed for 50 feet in each direction of the intersection at Joliet Highway and Schoolhouse Road. Safe-T-Grip is an epoxy resin applied to existing asphalt that increases friction on the tires. It's been used in Europe and various locations on the East and West coasts.

Why is this needed? Over the last five years, there have been at least 25 accidents at that intersection that were attributed to wet road conditions, some that involved cars going into residents' back yards. This option was cheaper than guard rails and has been proven to be effective on sharp curves, approaching intersections and in other roadways.