Will County Board votes to halt 143rd Street expansion project

HOMER GLEN, Ill. - The Will County Board voted Thursday to halt an expansion project on 143rd Street in Homer Glen.

Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said the board voted 12 to 11 to cease the expansion of 143rd Street to five lanes between Lemont and Bell Roads.

The stretch of road was approximately three and a half miles long and was situated in a rural and residential area.

Residents were concerned that the project would significantly increase noise levels and decrease safety.

"They want to keep it slower, safer. We have schools on this road. I have been here standing in my backyard and seen trucks speeding off of 355 where buses are coming out of school, and they are going to the east, screeching tires, and you pray that all these kids are gonna be safe," said resident Christy Nahser.

The vote Thursday represents an effort to overturn decisions made by multiple County Boards over the years. As recently as June 2023, the Will County Board endorsed the project and authorized the use of quick take for land acquisition in November 2023.

The project was initiated in response to local complaints about congestion and forecasts indicating a projected daily increase in traffic of 17,000 to 20,000 vehicles. Current daily traffic counts already surpass 14,000 vehicles, exceeding the standards set by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for a roadway of this scale. The full County Board has unanimously supported this project on 10 occasions since 2009, and it has been integrated into the county’s long-term planning framework for 12 years., the Office of the Will County Executive said.

In line with the County Board's directives, which include input from Board members representing this area, Will County has already invested over $6.2 million in this project. Additionally, officials say $7 million in federal funding has been secured for these enhancements, and intergovernmental agreements with the Village of Homer Glen have been established for pedestrian and bike path improvements along this road segment.