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Kankakee approves city–state agreement for I‑57/Illinois‑17 interchange; city share about $2 million
Summary
The Kankakee City Council approved a city–state cost‑sharing agreement to participate in reconstruction of Exit 312 (East Court Street). City officials said the city’s portion is slightly over $2 million on an approximately $90–100 million project, with roughly $800,000 tied to moving and reinstalling decorative lighting.
The Kankakee City Council on July 6 approved a resolution authorizing a city–state agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for reconstruction of the I‑57/Illinois‑17 interchange at Exit 312.
City engineer (speaking at the meeting) summarized the agreement’s cost‑sharing formulas and said the city’s share is “just over $2,000,000 total for the city's share of this project on a $100,000,000 project.” He added that much of the local expense reflects city‑requested elements — aesthetic features and the cost of relocating lighting the city currently owns.
Mayor Christopher Curtis and the engineer described a major line item of about $800,000 to move and reinstall light poles and to pay for decorative bridge and lighting elements; the mayor said the lighting relocation is expected to come from Environmental Services Utility funding and the decorative work from TIF funds. The engineer noted the state project letting has been scheduled and that utility relocations could begin by year’s end.
The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution. City officials said the project should be transformational for the east side of Kankakee, but cautioned construction will be disruptive and likely span multiple construction seasons. The engineer said contractors must submit staging and maintenance‑of‑traffic plans because a state route passes under the interstate, creating complex traffic control needs.
Officials said they will continue coordinating with IDOT on timing; the council did not vote on specific aesthetic options at the meeting. The resolution authorizes the city–state agreement and allows staff to move forward with the contract and the required local funding commitments.
What’s next: contractors will respond to IDOT’s letting, utility relocation work could begin later in the year, and the city will absorb its agreed share as described in the agreement.
