By Karen Haave
A study underway looks to evaluate and propose improvements to accommodate travel demand on I-57 for the year 2050. The Illinois Department of Transportation launched the study with an open house held this month in Peotone.
The study area extends from south of Wilmington-Peotone Road to north of Manhattan-Monee Road, and from U.S. 45 on the west to one-mile east of IL 50. Within its limits, the study area spans approximately 8.5 miles of I-57 and includes the villages of University Park, Monee, and Peotone in eastern Will County.
According to information provided by IDOT, the I-57 Access Study is being conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, which requires agencies such as IDOT to consider impacts to the human and natural environments.
The study will analyze existing conditions, establish a purpose and need, develop a reasonable range of alternatives and, ultimately, recommend a preferred alternative.
Its goal is to propose access improvements to I-57 to meet future traffic needs, IDOT officials said, and improve local and regional connectivity to I-57. More specifically, it will review existing traffic (average daily traffic and crash history), existing environmental and community resources, and land use/zoning (freight and economic conditions and economic zones).
The Peotone meeting drew dozens of area residents, as well as officials from all three villages. It was the first of three public meetings expected to be held between now and 2026.
IDOT spokesman Steve Schillke said the meetings are part of Phase I, which includes preliminary engineering and environmental studies. Phase II will take 24-to-36 months to complete and will cover contract plan preparation and land acquisition.
Phase III will follow and is earmarked for actual construction, which will take another two-to-three years.
But Schillke said Phase III is years away.
“We’re IDOT,” he quipped. “People should not expect it to happen quickly.”
In the meantime, planners are seeking input from residents, community leaders, business owners, and others.
Among those who attended the Peotone meeting was Monee Village Administrator Ruben Bautista.
“The Village of Monee is hopeful the proposed I-57 interchange projects, designed to address anticipated traffic volume increases at the Peotone and Monee interchanges, as well as the proposed new interchange at Eagle Lake Road and I-57, will be engineered and constructed with a forward-thinking approach, anticipating the potential development of a third Chicago airport,” he said.
“Such a development will trigger a significant regional impact, affecting residential, commercial, and industrial growth. We recognize the key benefits that these proposed infrastructure improvements will bring to our community:
•Easing Traffic Congestion – Reducing traffic congestion on local roads and improving overall traffic flow
•Enhancing Safety – Enhancing road safety for both residents and commuters
•Stimulating Economic Growth – Attracting new businesses and industries to the area, and
•Improving Quality of Life – Enhancing the overall quality of life for our residents.
“The Village of Monee is committed to working closely with state and federal officials to ensure these projects are implemented efficiently and effectively,” Bautista added. “We believe these improvements will position Monee as a thriving community for years to come.”
Monee community activist Christi Holston also participated in the meeting.
“I was glad that IDOT is giving the community an opportunity to become involved in the process at the beginning of the study period,” she said later. Their timeline indicates they will be studying improvements to I-57 access points between Monee-Manhattan Road and Wilmington-Peotone Road through 2025, 2026, and 2027.
“I was especially interested to see the storyboard they displayed that indicated other key Will County projects, including the South Suburban Airport, Intermodal Transportation Master Plan and Long Range Transportation Plan. It reminded me that any improvements or additions of interchanges along I-57 must be initiated and recommended for a reason, and we need to be aware of what those underlying reasons might be as decisions are made. It’s vital to get the whole picture of what is at stake and what we are agreeing to.”
Holston also said she volunteered to serve on the Community Advisory Group, which will serve as a liaison between the study team and the community, providing input on issues and contributing to the decision-making process.
“If we have local citizens involved in the process,” she explained, “I feel the community will be able to stay better informed and able to give our input and safeguard the interests of Monee.”
Peotone Village Administrator Nick Palmer touched on the Peotone interchange, a subject many of the residents commented on.
“The Peotone interchange is still not what it should be. It’s better than it was five years ago. But it’s still not totally safe.”
Peotone Village President Peter March had several suggestions for the study planners, and said, “The village spent $2.5 million on improvements to the interchange at I-57 (a few years ago). But it still needs improvement. It’s a dangerous intersection. The bridge over I-57 needs to be widened. It also needs traffic lights.”
But the one thing he doesn’t agree with is discussion of an interchange to serve the South Suburban Airport.
“Nobody is in favor of an interchange at Offner Road,” he said, adding the Village of Peotone long has opposed the airport and the traffic, noise, pollution, and loss of prime farm land that is expected to follow.
“But I think it’s good they’re here, talking to us. Our voices are important to the study. Because what comes out of the study will directly affect our way of life in Peotone.”
IDOT will continue to accept input for the study via email at AccessI57study@gmail.com or by mail to Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Programming, Attn: Anna Kutryn, P.E., 201 W. Center Court, Schaumburg, IL 60196.
Before they do that
1. Fix manhattan monee road to 4 lanes or build a connecting extension from 55 to 57 and further east
To many trucks on surface roads