Farmers Weekly Review

By Stephanie Irvine

The Illinois Department of Transportation held a hearing for the public to learn about proposed improvements to Illinois 53 between Patterson Road in Joliet to River Road in Wilmington.

Illinois 53, which also is a local segment of Route 66, is a well-traveled road that sees a significant amount of vehicular and truck traffic per day. The southern end of the project runs along Midewin Tallgrass Prairie and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, with the north end terminating just north of Nowell Park in Joliet.

The northern portion of the study area includes a heavily populated warehouse district with a number of entrances on to Illinois 53.

The March 21 public hearing at Stone City VFW Post in Joliet included a PowerPoint presentation with an explanatory voiceover that ran on a continuous loop in one room. Attendees also could visit an adjacent exhibit room showing maps and proposed updates. Most people browsed the exhibit room, as the presentation room was empty for the latter portion of the event.

A court reporter was available from 5:30 p.m. to the end of the public hearing to take comments for the public record. If someone was unable to attend but wanted to comment about the project for the public record, they are encouraged to mail them or make them online by April 11.

Interested parties can email [email protected] or visit http://www.il53corridor.org/ to comment online.

Communication Challenges

The project’s last public meeting was held nearly a decade ago in 2015, though various stakeholder meetings have been held throughout the years. The Community Advisory Group last met in October 2023, though who is still active from the group’s initial 2015 formation is unclear.

“I think they needed to contact the villages that are involved in their plan,” said Elwood Village President Doug Jenco, who attended the hearing.

“We didn’t receive any information that they were going to cut a curb cut or do a deceleration lane. We knew nothing about it,” said Jenco. “There’s no need for it. There’s not a truck route coming through (at Mississippi Avenue). No backups, no problems other than that there’s accidents, and we need a stoplight. If anywhere on 53, that’s a place we need a stoplight.”

Elwood Village Administrator Julie Friebele, who also attended, noted that she asked IDOT why they did not include a light at Mississippi Avenue.

“(IDOT) keeps saying that it’s not warranted through their traffic study,” said Friebele. “Three out of the four (directions) warrant a traffic light. Coming from the east to the west — there’s nothing over there, it’s all farmland. But that’s the reason they’re saying it’s not warranted. You can see there’s 5,000 cars coming through town every day. They could use a light to cross southbound 53.”

A traffic heat map on display at the hearing showed that the majority of the accidents occur between just south of Laraway Road north to the Patterson Road terminus, which is just before the Chicago Street I-80 westbound onramp.

According to data provided at the hearing, there have been 707 crashes between 2015 and 2019 at that location.

The map of the study area showed it was the site of 12 fatal accidents between 2015 and 2022. Of the fatalities, only two occurred south of Laraway Road, per the heat map. However, the Village of Elwood noted that a major accident that included a fatality at Mississippi Avenue and Route 53 was excluded from the traffic study.

IDOT said more recent traffic data was not provided because the data they already had warranted the changes. With that said, IDOT Project Manager Steve Schilke said they do update the studies periodically.

“They should talk to the villages in the surrounding area about what’s going on,” said Jenco. “They should’ve had a meeting with each one of the communities. Have it here, and contact us.”

Jenco said that while at the hearing, he talked with many area residents from Joliet and from Elwood, many of whom were unaware of IDOT’s plans.

Representatives from Joliet’s council and plan commission were present at the event, but the city did not provide an official comment by press deadline.

Wilmington representatives were aware of the public hearing but did not attend, noting that the improvements were primarily between Joliet and Elwood.

“The City is supportive of IDOT’s efforts to improve safety along this critical route,” said Wilmington City Administrator Jeannine Smith in an email response.

Community Response

“I hoped for more opportunity to make larger, better improvements, fully recognizing that funding and prioritization in the state always plays a role,” said Jerry Heinrich, current stakeholder and past president of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Alliance, speaking to Farmers Weekly Review as a resident.

Heinrich went on to explain that truck traffic from the grain facility, the intermodal, and Waste Management, to name a few, create a need for many improvements. Midewin’s only entrance on Illinois 53 could have received more attention, he added.

“But at the same time, I don’t know that it’s going to solve all of our problems, but it’s hopeful that it’s going to solve several,” he said. “One of the main things I would love to see is the speed limit between Mills Street and River Road reduced to 40-45 mph. As far as turn lanes, those things are always needed, always welcomed.

Multiple representatives from Clark Dietz, the engineering firm hired to manage the project, and IDOT were available to answer questions. The meeting was well-attended by the general public and by local elected officials.

Stalled by Project Delays

The project has slowly progressed since its 2015 inception, despite Phase One initially being projected to take 18-24 months as shown on older versions of the project’s schedule.

“It’s a combination of many things,” said Schilke in response to being asked why the first phase has taken so long and what was the impetus for moving forward now.

Schilke explained the project never stopped moving forward, but faced significant delays as a result of funding, changes in scope, providing the example of the viaduct flooding that requiring additional hydraulic analysis, dealing with historic sites, and the real time that it took to engage in multi-jurisdictional conversations, such as with the City of Joliet and Will County for the re-route of Route 52

“Funding is certainly one of those things,” he said, explaining that prior to the Rebuild Illinois capital bill’s passing in 2019, there was no funding for the project.

Geographically, the project is split into three sections: north, center, and southern sections. However, this sectioning does not refer to how the project will be completed; instead, the three phases dictate the timeline.

What areas within the project scope get completed first primarily depends on funding and land acquisitions. This means that different components of the project could get completed on different timelines, despite the geographic entirety of the project being shown in Phase One.

IDOT officials advised that older project phase graphics were outdated projections based on best-case scenario, while reality tends to put these phases of a project anywhere from three to six years. They no longer use the 18- to 24-month phase duration projection.

IDOT officials noted that Patterson Road to Arsenal Road is fully funded and ready for Phase Two, as it is included in IDOT’s proposed highway improvement program for 2024 to 2029. South of that to River Road has not yet been funded. Phase One includes preliminary engineering and environmental studies for the project with a goal of addressing safety and operations along Illinois 53.

Will County Board Member Denise Winfrey attended to make sure the improvements suggested several years ago still were a part of the plan. She was happy to see the pedestrian walkway now extend from Doris all the way to River Road, instead of just a portion of the route.

That walkway on the east side of Illinois 53 will provide a safe way for people to access walk or bike along the route, even biking to work at one of the businesses on Illinois 53.

As for the changes at Doris, Mills and Gardner Road, Winfrey said she was impressed when she first saw them. But closing off Doris at Illinois 53 will make things safer by not having vehicles waiting for the light there, while southbound trucks are gathering speed to make it up the hill from the viaduct.

The roundabout will slow down traffic in the area, especially around Nowell Park and prevent trucks from speeding around the corners, she said. Instead, they’ll have to use Laraway Road to get to Briggs Street instead of the narrower back roads.

“People in my district have heard me talking about this for years,” she said. “They probably thought it was a pipe dream. I’m glad to finally see it going forward.”

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter. Editor Nick Reiher contributed to this report.

Changes Proposed in the Plan

A number of changes are proposed along Illinois 53, mostly with a minor impact to area residents, businesses, the environment and historical sites. Land acquisitions, which could include temporary easements, are primarily needed for the pedestrian paths that would cut into private property.

One business, Mr. Tire auto service center located at Zurich Avenue, would be displaced with the current proposed project scope. IDOT intends to realign the intersection, which would require the land where the business sits.

IDOT officials say they try to work with landowners as much as possible, and that typically, a land acquisition deal is delayed not because of price disagreement, but because of title clearance issues.

Improvements at Illinois 53 and Doris Avenue/Route 52 as well as at Gardner and Nowell Avene include re-routing Route 52. Doris Avenue would terminate at a cul-de-sac instead of the current intersection with Gardner. The Nowell Road access would be closed, and a roundabout would be installed where Route 52, Mills Road, and Gardner Road now intersect.

Additionally, the pedestrian staircase by the viaduct just north of Doris Avenue on Illinois 53 would be rebuilt, and under the viaduct would be repaired but not expanded due to the rail bridge and creek.

Project Manager Steve Schilke explained that IDOT has limited funding, and they prioritize projects entirely in IDOT’s jurisdiction. He said the railroad has acknowledged the rail bridge is structurally sound, but that ultimately, any expansion there would fall on the railroad.

Mills Road improvements include additional turn lanes and a shared-use bike path. A new left turn lane would be installed at Zurich Road and Girard Boulevard, with Zurich Road being re-routed to align with Girard. This would displace the Mr. Tire business that is currently located at the corner of Zurich Road and Illinois 53. The proposed shared use/bike path would also continue down Illinois 53 all the way to River Road.