Will County committee adopts 2026–2031 transportation plan after heated debate over 140th Street project

The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee voted June 18 to adopt the county’s Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Plan, a five-year snapshot of planned projects and existing contracts, after lengthy discussion and public comment focused on the proposed widening of 140th Street through Homer Glen.

The committee’s adoption came after presentations from county staff explaining that the TIP is a planning document that is updated annually and reflects contracts already executed or anticipated over the next five years. Jeff Ronaldson, the county’s transportation director, told the committee the plan is “a snapshot” that will be updated each year and that many projects on the list will require separate future contracts that must be approved by the county board.

The debate centered on the 3-mile Homer Glen segment of 140th Street, for which Ronaldson said Will County has spent about $6.3 million on studies and related work since 2009 and for which a preliminary engineering phase included a federal contribution of roughly $750,000. Ronaldson said the current contract on file calls for a five‑lane cross section; he also said the county has investigated narrower cross sections and that right‑of‑way needs for a three‑lane section may be similar in some places because of drainage and detention requirements. "If we took the five lanes out and made it a three‑lane, then that's still okay," Ronaldson said, adding that any change would be reflected in next year’s update.

Committee members and residents argued over whether the project could — and should — be altered or postponed. Member Balich said he…