By Karen Haave

The heavily trafficked intersection of Ridgeland Avenue and Bruns Road in Monee is now a four-way stop. The Monee Village Board last week approved an ordinance to add a stop sign in an effort to make the convergence safer. The intersection previously had been a two-way stop going east and west.

Monee Mayor Therese Bogs asked the board to consider the change during the September 11 meeting. She said residents had complained about the intersection, which has seen increased traffic since the opening of the Amazon Fulfillment Center on Monee-Manhattan Road.
The ordinance unanimously approved by the board of trustees notes that “the village board has recently been apprised of a substantial increase of vehicular traffic near Ridgeland Avenue and Bruns Road” and that “citizens have expressed concerns regarding the increased traffic flow, which may affect the public health, safety and welfare…(therefore) it has been deemed in the village’s best interests to install a stop sign at Ridgeland Avenue and Bruns Road.”
In other business during the September 25 meeting, the board approved a resolution in support of an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant application for pedestrian improvements along Will-Center Road and Linden Avenue.
The village is looking to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities with crosswalk improvements along Will-Center Road and Linden Avenue “to improve the sidewalk network in this area and enhance non-motorized transportation, which will provide improved safety for children walking to Monee Elementary School and village parks, as well as pedestrian access to the village’s commercial district.”
The ITEP Grant will fund 80 percent of eligible preliminary engineering, design, construction, and construction engineering and 50 percent of right-of-way and street lighting of the proposed improvements, with the remaining costs and ineligibles to be paid with local funds. 
Under terms of the grant, Monee would pay up to 20 percent (the required local match) to complete the design, construction, and construction engineering and up to 50 percent (the required local match) for right-of-way acquisition and street lighting, and all ineligible costs associated with the project.