Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | November 2025

The Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee on Tuesday approved a landmark agreement to consolidate the Central Will Dial-A-Ride service into the county’s Access Will County program. The five-year phased takeover sparked a lengthy debate about the long-term financial impact on taxpayers versus the goal of creating an equitable, county-wide public transit system for seniors and residents with disabilities. Ultimately, the committee voted to advance the consolidation plan to the full County Board. For more details on this decision, please see our full story.

In other significant actions, the committee advanced the Gougar Road bridge project in New Lenox by approving over $540,000 in agreements for supplemental engineering and utility relocation. New speed limits were also established for roads in Green Garden and Frankfort townships following traffic studies. More information on these items is available in our detailed coverage. The committee also received updates on upcoming road projects and routine maintenance activities.

Public Meeting Scheduled for US Route 6 Improvements
The Will County Division of Transportation announced it will hold a public meeting on Thursday, December 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Joliet Junior College to discuss the reconstruction of US Route 6. The project covers the segment between I-55 and Houbolt Road. The county is leading the Phase I engineering in a partnership with Joliet, Channahon, and IDOT before handing the project to the state for construction.

Renwick Road Railroad Crossing to Close for One Week
The CN Railroad will close Renwick Road in Plainfield between US Route 30 and I-55 for a full week to perform crossing renewal work. The closure is scheduled from Monday, November 17, through Friday, November 21. Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson confirmed that a marked detour will be in place to guide motorists around the construction.

Construction Updates on Bell, Laraway, and River Roads
A monthly construction report highlighted progress on several key county projects. Work is largely complete on Laraway Road, where a new traffic signal at Nelson Road was recently activated. On Bell Road, traffic has been shifted for projects at 159th Street and 143rd Street, with storm sewer installation underway. Meanwhile, milling and paving operations are in progress on a section of River Road (CH 44).

County Maintenance Crews Prepare for Winter
As mowing and road painting seasons conclude, Will County maintenance crews are shifting focus to winter readiness. According to a monthly report, staff have begun servicing and storing summer equipment while installing salt spreaders on plow trucks for the upcoming season. Crews also continue to repair highway signage, clean culverts and ditches, and perform asphalt patching to address potholes on county roads.