Will County DOT Hosts Open House on Manhattan-Monee Road Project

By Andrea Arens

Article Summary:

Will County officials are in the early planning stages of a long-term improvement project along Manhattan-Monee Road, with construction likely years away. At a March 19 open house in Peotone, residents learned the project is part of a larger corridor effort involving three separate projects, each with different timelines and funding sources. While the county now oversees the roadway, key decisions—such as intersection design—will ultimately be made by the state.

Green Garden, IL: The Will County Department of Transportation (WCDOT) held a public open house on March 19 at Peotone Intermediate Center to present early plans and gather community input on a proposed improvement project along Manhattan-Monee Road.

The project covers a two-mile stretch from U.S. Route 45 to Center Road in unincorporated Green Garden Township. The roadway was recently transferred from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to WCDOT, giving the county responsibility for planning and future improvements.

Currently in Phase I, the project is focused on evaluating existing conditions. Engineers are reviewing roadway design, drainage, traffic patterns, and crash data while developing and comparing potential improvement options. This phase also includes identifying any future property acquisition needs.

According to project materials, the county’s goals include improving pavement conditions, enhancing roadside safety, accommodating current and future traffic demand, minimizing utility impacts, and supporting multi-modal transportation.

The project is one of three separate efforts along the Manhattan-Monee Road corridor. Another project involving intersection improvements at Center Road has drawn local attention due to its connection to ongoing discussions about the closure of Peotone Intermediate Center within Peotone School District 207U.

Emily Anderson of CBBEL Engineering, the firm overseeing this specific project, said her team is only responsible for this segment. She noted that each corridor project is being handled by different engineering firms but coordinated through Will County.

Officials also clarified that, unlike some of the other corridor improvements, this project is not funded with federal dollars, which affects its timeline. While Phase II engineering is tentatively scheduled for 2026–2027 and construction (Phase III) for 2028, attendees were told that actual construction may not begin until 2031, when funding is expected to be available.

During construction, planners anticipate keeping at least one lane of traffic open to reduce disruptions.

Questions from residents also focused on future intersection design, particularly whether a traffic signal or roundabout would be installed. Officials explained that although WCDOT now oversees the roadway, IDOT retains jurisdiction over intersections, meaning the state will make the final decision on traffic control features.

Residents were encouraged to provide feedback either at the open house or through the project website (www.manhattan-monee-study.com) as planning continues.

A poster board discussed alternatives for the corridor-photo by Andrea Arens.