Sidewalks Possible Along Route 30, Cedar Road

Walking and biking down Route 30 and Cedar Road could become a safer and more viable option in New Lenox if a couple sidewalk projects are approved. 

On Monday, the village's streets and drainage committee met and gave staff further direction to estimate costs for two new sidewalks: one that would connect the sidewalk on the north side of Route 30 between the fire station and Walmart, and another on Cedar Road south of Joliet Highway.

A sidewalk was built after Walmart opened in October 2010 and that area began to bring in new businesses. However, it doesn't connect to the walk in front of the Fire Protection District, and further west there's also space in front of the Pit Stop bar that doesn't have a sidewalk.

"It's an area that absolutely needs it," trustee Ray Tuminello said. "There's a lot of people who come over that way who go to the Walmart area now."

Village engineer Will Nash said that area would call for a 765-foot sidewalk that would be 5 feet wide, costing about $25,000.

On Cedar Road, 2,630 feet of a 4-foot-wide sidewalk would be constructed from Joliet Highway south to Illinois Highway. That could cost between $40,000 and $50,000, but work to improve residents' driveways could cost up to $20,000 more. This would allow for a sidewalk that would connect part of the south end of town with the Old Plank Bike Trail entrance just north of Joliet Highway.

Nash said he would need to put together an engineering plan to bring to the state Department of Transportation, which owns the right-of-way on Route 30.

The Route 30 widening project includes a bike path or sidewalk along the entire portion of the road in New Lenox, extending west from Bluestone Bay to Marley Road.