Open House Planned For IL 171, New Avenue Project

LOCKPORT, IL — The City of Lockport will hold an open house public meeting on the IL 171 and New Avenue phase 1 study on March 2, City Administrator Ben Benson shared during Wednesday's Committee of the Whole meeting.

The public meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 2 at Lockport City Hall.

Last year, the City Council authorized funding for the IL 171, New Avenue project.

"We are excited to have a final vision for two IDOT routes that merge at New Ave and IL 171 (also known as State Street or Archer Avenue)," Benson told Patch.

He said the City first looked at the project for "safety reasons" to improve southbound traffic as a slip lane on New Avenue. The City also looked at a traffic circle configuration, "but that proved to not fit here," Benson said.

"However, with IDOT help, ultimately we compromised on a new traffic signal to be configured and flattening out the grades will make this intersection much safer," Benson said.

According to the city, proposed improvements consist of: the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection, to enable New Avenue traffic to safely enter IL 171; reconstruction of New Avenue to accommodate separated left and right-turn lanes; widening and resurfacing of IL 171 to improve traffic; IL 171 median modifications for the extension of the northbound left-turn lane and to provide a dedicated southbound left-turn lane onto Franklin Street.

Benson said the open house is open to the public, and residents near the intersection will also receive notice of the open house.