Will County Committee Advances Gougar Road Bridge Project with Over $540,000 in Agreements

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | November 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Board approved two key agreements for the Gougar Road bridge project in New Lenox, authorizing over $300,000 for supplemental design engineering and an estimated $240,000 to reimburse Nicor Gas for relocating facilities.

Gougar Road Project Key Points:

• A supplemental agreement of $301,703 was approved with A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. for expanded Phase II design engineering services.

• An agreement was authorized to reimburse Nicor Gas Company for an estimated $240,000 to move its facilities for the Gougar Road (CH 52) bridge project over the CN Railroad.

The Will County Board on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, pushed a major infrastructure project in New Lenox forward by unanimously approving two agreements totaling more than half a million dollars for the proposed Gougar Road bridge over the CN Railroad.

The board authorized a supplemental professional services agreement with A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. for $301,703. The funds will cover expanded Phase II design engineering services for the project, which is located in County Board District #2. According to project documents, the supplemental work includes redesigning the bridge from a three-span to a four-span structure to avoid relocating an adjacent Nicor facility, extending project limits, and designing a water main relocation for the Village of New Lenox.

In a related action, the board approved a second agreement to reimburse Northern Illinois Gas Company (Nicor) for the actual costs of relocating its gas facilities to accommodate the bridge construction. The estimated cost for Nicor’s work is $240,000. This reimbursement is necessary as Nicor holds a superior right to its existing easement where the county improvements are planned.

Both measures passed without opposition, signaling the board’s continued commitment to the grade separation project, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety on Gougar Road.