Members of the Will County Board are re-exploring the idea of constructing a new bridge over the Des Plaines River Valley. This concept was put aside four years ago due to funding challenges. Back in 2022, the estimated cost for the bridge and an 11-mile corridor improvement through Crest Hill, Lockport, and Homer and Lockport Townships was approximately $617.6 million. Jeff Ronaldson, the director of the Will County Division of Transportation, indicated that the cost has likely risen since then.
The Illinois Department of Transportation showed no interest in financing the project, and municipalities or townships found it financially unfeasible to cover any part of the costs, according to Ronaldson. The proposal, known as the Caton Farm-Bruce Road Regional Transportation Corridor, has been in discussion for more than 25 years and includes plans for a new bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Des Plaines River, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Discussions initiated in 2001 involved several years of evaluating different roadway alignments.
In 2022, the County Board opted to transition the project into a planning and environmental linkages study. This move temporarily halted progress but allows officials to resume without starting from scratch. Ronaldson noted that some information might now be outdated.
Need for New Discussions
With the 9th Street Bridge near downtown Lockport facing significant construction in the coming years, several board members emphasized the need for new discussions. Currently, other east-west crossings over the Des Plaines River Valley are located in Romeoville and Joliet. Although realizing that a new bridge would not be built before 9th Street Bridge roadwork begins, board members wish to address traffic bottlenecks and growing travel delays in the area.
Board member Dave Oxley, a Republican from Lockport, expressed concerns over worsening traffic, particularly its impact on fire departments and paramedics positioned on both sides of the river. The board held a special meeting to revive discussions about the project.
“This is a perfect opportunity for us to be bridge builders,” stated Mark Revis, vice-chair of the Public Works and Transportation Committee. “I’m talking about uniting multiple entities, including municipalities, government units, and businesses, to ease traffic congestion in central Will County.”
Proposed Corridor and Funding Challenges
The proposed 11-mile corridor would connect locations at U.S. Route 30, Gaylord Road and Caton Farm Road in Crest Hill with Cedar Road and 159th Street in Homer Glen. The area involves roughly 157 acres needed for right-of-way acquisitions, impacting agricultural, commercial, and residential properties. Infrastructure on both sides of the river requires improvements to ensure efficient traffic movement to and from the proposed bridge.
Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman reiterated the city’s stance from four years ago. Crest Hill cannot financially support its share of the bridge and corridor improvements, especially while managing another significant project to provide Lake Michigan water to residents. Soliman welcomed the renewed talks but emphasized that either Will County or the Illinois Department of Transportation should sponsor the project.
Though board members suggested possible management strategies, they agreed that financing remains a crucial issue. Ideas included making the bridge a toll road and seeking partnerships with the Illinois Tollway. Board member Steve Balich, a Homer Glen Republican, mentioned this possibility. Julie Berkowicz, a Republican from Naperville, advocated for lobbying federal and state representatives for funding.
Democratic Leader Sherry Williams from Crest Hill voiced concerns about the project’s potential impact on Lockport Township’s Fairmont community. The area houses around 800 homes, and she worried about the effects of splitting the neighborhood with a new road. Revis agreed and stressed the need to avoid negatively impacting Fairmont.
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