95th Street Extension to Start Construction in 2012

The Will County Department of Highways held Monday to discuss the status of the 95^th Street extension, which includes plans for a bridge across an area .

And officials' message was clear: The bridge connecting Bolingbrook to Naperville is happening regardless of some residents' peeves. 

The meeting was aimed to update residents on the extension’s design, including the new bridge—a widened Kings Road and noise walls.

Because the second phase of the project—essentially the design phase—is almost completed, construction on the bridge will begin sometime between 2012 and 2013.  

“[The decision] is final, it can’t be changed,” said Jeffrey Ronaldson, a Department of Highways representative. “It was just promised that we would give the public a status update.”

Still, about 30 residents attended the meeting to voice their concerns to the highway department staff and elected officials as they pored over the design.

With a large map of the area, residents could point out their properties and pinpoint how they will be affected. 

Some mentioned the lack of stop signs and traffic lights, which could pose danger to pedestrians. Others pointed to the increased speed limit of 40 mph to 45 mph.

Many worried about property values and a few residents also will lose parts of their property when the noise wall will be built a few feet within their homes’ boundaries. 

According to Department of Highways representative Donald Yetter, such property loss is only applicable to a few homes, while most homeowners will gain a few square feet of land when the noise wall is built and the owners can extend their property line.

After the second phase is completed, negotiators will meet with homeowners in September to provide offers to acquire pieces of their land. Once all the land needed is acquired, contractors will begin work on planning and constructing the project.

Though the 95^th Street Extension project has been in the works since 1990, Yetter said now is the best time to fully realize the project because of increased funding and low costs for construction. 

“Prices are as low as they’ve been in 10 years,” he said, explaining that if the project were started earlier, Naperville and Bolingbrook residents would have had to pay a significantly larger amount in taxes. “It’s a buyer’s market right now. It’s very advantageous on timing.”

Some residents, however, still have concerns.

“This is a waste of money,” said Ilias Belharduak of Bolingbrook. “This is a project that gives us an example how the local people who represent us just waste federal dollars.”

As for the disputed parcels of land in the DuPage River Confluence?

Last week’s Will County Land Use Committee voted against naming the area a historic landmark, delivering a blow for the Bolingbrook residents who had hoped to see the land contribute its history to the village after .

Ultimately, the goal of the bridge is to decrease congestion and alleviate traffic flow in the area. Although it may not please residents living along the extension, the county definitely will move forward with construction.