Lemont approves Smith Road corridor study and traffic‑signal design; village announces bike‑trail grant

The Lemont Village Board on Monday approved a professional design agreement for a traffic signal at 130 First Street and Derby and separately authorized a corridor study of Smith Road and adjacent streets to analyze truck routing, capacity and potential restrictions.

Village Administrator George presented the items and said the corridor study will evaluate existing conditions and “truck restriction options including potential jurisdictional transfer options and other legal requirements related to those options.” He told the board the consultant will begin work once the agreement is executed and that the study is expected to take about five to six months.

The board voted to enter an agreement with HR Green for design engineering for a traffic signal at the 130 First/Derby intersection and approved a professional‑services contract with H.R. Lochner LLC for a Smith Road area corridor study. Board members said the signal and study respond to development and safety pressures in the area, including new park facilities, bike paths and recent county improvements to 130 First Street.

George also told the board the village received roughly a half‑million dollars in ITEP funding for a separated bicycle trail along 130 First Street, a project the administrator said will connect Derby Road to Bell Road and improve pedestrian and bicycle access where none exists now. “We’re pretty excited about that project,” he said.

Separately, George alerted the board that Will County will hold a zoning hearing for a property at 13141 South High Road in unincorporated Romeoville. The county application proposes a map amendment from A‑1 to I‑3 to permit outdoor storage of vehicles, recreational vehicles, construction and farm equipment and building materials. George said the village previously submitted a letter of objection and plans to consider another objection letter, asking the board for direction at an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting.

Board members and staff emphasized limits of local jurisdiction: Smith Road and parts of the affected corridor are outside village corporate limits in unincorporated townships, and portions of 130 First are Cook County roads. The board said it will coordinate with Will County, Cook County and state agencies as the corridor study and the signal design proceed.

Next steps: engineering for the signal will move forward with the selected firm, the corridor study will begin and include community outreach, and staff said they will prepare a letter of objection for the county zoning matter if the board supports it at the next committee meeting.