Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting October 7, 2025

Article Summary: The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has allocated over $1.3 billion for road and bridge projects in Will County over the next six years as part of its newly released Multi-Year Program. County officials also announced the receipt of a $750,000 state grant to support the expansion of Weber Road.

IDOT Multi-Year Program Key Points:

• IDOT’s 2026-2031 Multi-Year Program includes more than $1.3 billion for projects located in Will County.

• Over $392 million is scheduled to be spent in the 2026 fiscal year alone.

• Will County secured a $750,000 grant for the Weber Road expansion project between Airport Road and 135th Street.

• Officials stated that federal funding for road projects is not expected to be affected by the current federal government shutdown.

JOLIET, IL – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is planning a massive investment in Will County’s infrastructure, with its new six-year plan earmarking over $1.3 billion for projects across the county, officials announced on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Jeff Ronaldson, Will County’s Director of Transportation, presented a summary of IDOT’s 2026-2031 Multi-Year Program (MYP) to the Public Works & Transportation Committee. He highlighted the significant level of state investment planned for the region.

“In general, the plan calls for more than $1.3 Billion to be spent in Will County over the next six years with over $392 Million to be spent in 2026,” Ronaldson stated in a memo to the committee.

The state’s program focuses heavily on major corridors, with significant funding directed toward projects on I-80, I-55, and I-57, as well as U.S. Route 52 and Illinois Route 53.

Ronaldson also delivered good news on the local front, announcing that Will County was successful in a recent grant application. “We applied and we did get $750,000 for the Weber Road expansion,” he said. That grant will support the county’s project to widen Weber Road between Airport Road and 135th Street.

Amid concerns about the ongoing federal government shutdown, Ronaldson reassured the committee that road funding appears secure. “We got a circular letter from the secretary a week or so ago that the federal dollars should not be impacted,” he reported. “They’re confident the program remains intact.”

The full IDOT program document lists dozens of specific projects, ranging from interchange reconstructions and bridge replacements to standard overlays and traffic signal modernizations throughout Will County.