Rep. Lipinski Holds Roundtable On Closing I&M Canal Trail Gap

LEMONT, IL — United States Representative Dan Lipinski held a local roundtable with local government officials and advocacy groups to discuss the I&M Canal trail. According to a release, the roundtable discussed options on how to close the 5-mile gap in the trail between Willow Springs Road in Willow Springs and the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in Lyons.

Lemont Mayor John Egofske was also part of the roundtable discussion, and a desire to improve the I&M Canal trail in Lemont and Joliet was discussed.

“As a frequent user of the I&M Canal Trail, I know it has to become one of Chicagoland’s finest amenities if we complete the extension project and close the existing gap,” Lipinski said in a release. “Extending and improving the trail in my district will help serve as an economic development tool for local communities like Summit, Justice and Bedford Park. This is a top priority of mine and I will look for ways in the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization to advance this critical project.”

Lipinski and the roundtable group said the next course of action will be to identify funding sources to complete the phase one engineering study for closing the trail gap.