Orland Park is going to be a five-roundabout town.
Over the next five years, there will be $120 million spent on transportation projects in Orland Park.
Director of Engineering Khurshid Hoda gave a detailed breakdown of the projects at the March 2 Committee of the Whole meeting.
If all goes to plan, the village will add two more roundabouts – one at Ravinia Avenue and 153rd Street in 2027 and another at Ravinia Avenue and the entrance to Costco Wholesale and a new expanded gas station in 2026.
“Seventy percent of Costco’s parking is on the North side of the building,” Hoda said. “With the roundabout we are adding a separate lane leading into that, which will help relieve congestion.”
That will bring the amount of roundabouts in the village to five.
“Based on the conversations we’ve had with the residents and some police department officers, everybody likes it after they get used to it,” Hoda said of roundabouts.
Mayor James Dodge is hoping everyone can get used to them.
“We Orlanders have gotten used to the roundabouts,” he said. “It will be with the visitors that will be the challenges.”
The mayor also had hopes they will relieve the stacking of traffic that becomes a problem in certain areas.
“Our roundabouts are very generous in design requirements,” Hoda said, “So, you will see that these roundabouts will make the traffic flow much better than it is today.”
As for the five-year overall vision, Hoda said that $88 million grants or outside funding have been locked up for those projects.
The biggest chunk of money will go to the 143th Street widening project with $57 million being allocated for that project.
Widening streets will generally cause consternation with residents about various issues, but Hoda emphasized that during the widening from Wolf Road to West Avenue, oak trees on the hill in that area will not be affected.
Plans for traffic improvements will also be made in the proposed Amazon building at 159th Street and LaGrange Road. Traffic studies will also be a part of the big picture in the next five years.