Will County panel approves several road and signal contracts, extends Cherry Hill speed zone; hears $27 million federal award for Gallagher Road grade separatio

Will County Transportation Committee on Jan. 21 approved a series of contracts and intergovernmental agreements to modernize traffic signals, install reflective pavement markings and adjust speed limits, and heard an informational update that the county received a $27 million federal award for the Gallagher Road grade separation project.

The approvals included a countywide contract for reflective pavement markings, a $1,609,999 contract for traffic-signal modernization on Weber Road, and an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Plainfield for maintenance and energy costs at the Renwick Road/Boulevard Place signal. Committee members also voted to rescind a prior resolution and authorize execution of a METRA agreement to pay engineering costs for at-grade railroad crossing improvements on Gauger Road, approved establishing an extended speed zone on Cherry Hill Road, and authorized membership in the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network.

Why it matters: the items approved advance several safety and modernization projects that county staff said will reduce response time to signal problems, add countywide pavement visibility treatments, and help secure funding and agreements needed to move large highway and rail-safety projects toward construction.

Most important actions and discussion

- Reflective pavement markings and signal modernization: Jeff, director of transportation, described the Weber Road signal modernization as moving much of the monitoring and control to the DOT office so staff can identify and fix problems faster with fewer field crews. On the $1,609,999 contract to Vanmark Electric Company for traffic-signal modernization on Weber Road (County Highway 808 from Lilycache to Root Street), Jeff said the work will let staff “manipulate everything all right from the DOT office,” reducing manpower and turnaround time.

- Plainfield intergovernmental agreement: The committee approved an agreement with the Village of Plainfield to share maintenance and energy costs for the traffic signal at Renwick Road (County Highway 306) and Boulevard Place in District 8. A committee member noted the intersection is adjacent to a Costco parking area and that Boulevard Place sees cut-through traffic.

- METRA engineering agreement and resolution rescind: The committee rescinded a prior resolution and approved a new agreement with METRA to reimburse engineering costs for at-grade crossing improvements on Gauger Road (north of U.S. 30). Jeff said the county’s commitments remain unchanged and that the new METRA agreement primarily adjusts verbiage to match METRA’s current documents: “So we're just executing a new agreement, but with the same parameters as far as the county is concerned.”

- Cherry Hill Road speed-zone change: The committee authorized an extended speed zone that makes a segment of Cherry Hill Road all 45 mph after a speed study. Jeff explained there is no annual automatic review of every speed zone and that changes are generally made after a speed study or when road design standards require it. He noted an IDOT design standard limits maximum speed on curb-and-gutter sections to 45 mph and that the study supported making the less-than-half-mile segment consistent with the curb-and-gutter section.

- Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network: The committee authorized the County Executive to join the statewide mutual aid network by rescinding resolution 24-180 and executing a new intergovernmental agreement for membership.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Jan. 7, 2025 (with Department of Transportation correction noted): motion carried. - Contract award—countywide reflective pavement markings (Marketing Specialist Corporation): motion carried. - Contract award—Vanmark Electric Company, $1,609,999, Weber Road traffic-signal modernization: motion carried. - Intergovernmental agreement—Village of Plainfield for Renwick Road signal maintenance/energy: motion carried. - Rescind resolution and approve METRA engineering-cost agreement for Gauger Road at-grade crossing improvements: motion carried. - Establish extended 45 mph speed zone on Cherry Hill Road (County Highway 806): motion carried. - Rescind resolution 24-180 and authorize membership in the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network: motion carried.

Informational updates and committee questions

Jeff told the committee the county was awarded $27,000,000 in federal funding for the Gallagher Road grade separation over CN (in addition to prior grade-crossing protection funds totaling roughly $18,000,000). He described the award as a significant portion of the project’s funding needs and said the total remaining work still exceeds $50,000,000. On grant timing and security, Jeff cautioned that a signed agreement is the final step but said he has a state memo indicating transportation dollars of this nature are moving forward as planned and that safety-focused transportation dollars “have not been discussed as being in jeopardy.”

Committee members pressed for local detail on the Gallagher Road project, including expected changes in road elevation near the Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS office; Jeff and a staff member, Eric (project staff), said the design will raise the roadway roughly six to seven feet in places and will use a stabilized retaining wall rather than a typical embankment. Jeff also said the project will include both a 10-foot multiuse path on the east side of Gower Road and a 4-to-5-foot sidewalk on the other side to provide pedestrian and nonmotorized facilities across the grade separation.

Members asked about other county priorities: Jeff said he had asked IDOT for the schedule on a previously discussed turn lane on Route 53/Arsenal Road in Manhattan; earlier indications had been that IDOT would lead, but Jeff said he will follow up and invite board members to meet with IDOT staff if the agency’s timing does not match local expectations.

140th Street litigation and land acquisition: Committee members raised concerns about the 140th Street corridor project, where litigation and delayed court proceedings have slowed land acquisition. Jeff said design work is complete and the county is not spending construction dollars; only limited funds for land acquisition remain in play. He explained the county will not proceed to construction until necessary land acquisitions are complete and the County Board approves a construction contract. He noted that land bought by the county would be held in trust should the project not move forward immediately.

Multiyear plan and transparency tools: Jeff reviewed the county’s multiyear project list and announced a new web resource containing project summary PDFs and, in the coming month, an interactive map of design projects. Committee members requested added columns showing county-board district on some summary documents and asked that phase definitions (phase 1: preliminary engineering; phase 2: design and right-of-way; phase 3: construction) be made more prominent in the packet. Jeff said staff will add district information and other clarifications.

Ending

The committee had no public commenters at the meeting and adjourned after the posted agenda items.