A Roundabout at Cedar and Haven?

The Village Board took steps this week to secure funding for possible road projects at two of 's intersections that cause angst among drivers.

At its last meeting, the Village Board authorized that the village would be able to fund 20 percent of the total cost of phase-two engineering and construction at the intersection of Haven Avenue and Cedar Road as well as Route 6 and Gougar Road.

The remaining 80 percent could come in the form of a grant through the Will County Governmental League, which issues money annually for various transportation projects. The Governmental League requires a 20 percent match from municipalities, so this move will allow New Lenox to apply for grant money to help fund these projects.

At Gougar and Route 6 the village hopes to get a fully signalized intersection with turn lanes. Currently it's a four-way stop that often leads to backed up traffic.

Cedar and Haven is more disjointed because the roads aren't perpendicular. Drivers going south on Cedar have the right of way in any direction, which at many times during the day can make it difficult for other drives looking to go through the intersection west on Haven.

"We've got to straighten that road, and if it's not straight then close to it," trustee Dave Smith said at the board meeting.

The village owns one home at that intersection, and there is also a business on the northeast corner. Mayor Tim Baldermann said the impact on residents and the business would all depend on what the village actually decides to do, which is only in the discussion stage now.

Baldermann said the village has discussed numerous options, one being a roundabout, but that nothing is determined.

The mayor said that while traffic is often a mess there, it hasn't been a common safety issue.

"There aren't a lot of accidents over there because everyone just stops and looks at each other," he said.

Baldermann said the Governmental League has about $58 million total for projects, which municipalities essentially apply for as they would a grant, and the application must focus on a specific project.

New Lenox Administrator Kurt Carroll said there's an additional $2.1 million available this year because of Will County's growth. The Governmental League takes applications and rates projects on factors such as traffic counts and safety concerns.