I-80 Route 30 Interchange Gets Federal Funds

NEW LENOX, IL - On Tuesday afternoon, New Lenox Village Board member Jasen Howard, who is active on social media, took to Facebook because he had great news to share with his constituents. The topic? Interstate 80 safety improvements. It's a topic near and dear to thousands of people, particularly motorists who drive I-80 between New Lenox and Joliet, where the stretch is treacherous.

Howard passed along the following information in the New Lenox Facebook forum, courtesy of county representative Ray Tuminello, who relayed the following: "Just got off of the phone with our County consultant and was informed that the Will County and the Village of New Lenox won the IL competitive Freight Grant for the restructure of the I80 & Rt. 30 interchange.

"This $43 million project will include a $34 million grant from the Federal Government. IDOT will pay the remaining balance. Thank you to Mayor (Tim) Baldermann for your continued cooperation with the County in getting these projects awarded. Thank you to you and your staff for the hard work put in with our County Staff to make sure this became a reality. Many letters of support along with trips to Washington and Springfield were key. The project is shovel ready and is hoping to have an August letting!"

Later in the afternoon, Nick Palmer, who works for Will County Executive Larry Walsh, appeared on the Kevin Kollins afternoon show on 1340-WJOL to discuss the funding and the time frame for the project.

To hear Palmer's seven-minute conversation on WJOL, you can listen to it here.