Village Says No To 5-Lane Plainfield Road

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Cook County officials say future traffic volumes would justify a five-lane Plainfield Road from County Line to Wolf roads. But Western Springs is opposed.

Cook County has made no decisions yet, but is investigating improvements on Plainfield from County Line to East Avenue. It says it is doing so because of drainage issues and aging pavement. The Western Springs section is three lanes, including a turning lane.

In May, the village provided its response to a report from the county on options for the road. One of the alternatives under consideration is making the road five lanes from County Line to Wolf. But Village Engineer Jefferey Koza said a five-lane road would have no operational benefit, even if traffic volumes increased by 2050.

According to the village, a wider road would add more impervious surface to the area, thus increasing flooding for the Ridgewood subdivision, which already has experienced more than its share.

"The Village has observed that some community members are strongly opposed to the expansion of the road to 5 lanes," Koza said. "There are yard signs on both sides of Plainfield Road indicating the opposition to the 5-lane concept."

Koza also said the village is opposed to the five-lane road because it would require considerable right-of-way taking for the project.

The county says it is studying improvements for Plainfield Road because of concerns over drainage, pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations, and other safety issues.

According to the study, the entire 3½-mile section of road is past its useful life and requires improvement. Near County Line Road, the concrete pavement is more than 40 years old, while in other areas, it is more than 60 years old, the county said.

"It is anticipated that the pavement will be reconstructed throughout the entire project area," the study said.

Construction is expected to start in 2026, the county says.

In response to Koza's letter, a Cook County official said the 2050 traffic volumes are high enough to warrant a five-lane road.

"The (county) is still in the process of evaluating multiple alternatives for this project, and a decision on a preferred alternative has not yet been made," Jennifer "Sis" Killen, superintendent of the Department of Transportation and Highways, said in a July 2 letter.

She said the county planned to decide on an option near the end of the year and then hold another public hearing in mid-2022 to present it to the public for feedback.