Safety Upgrades Planned for Wilmington-Peotone Road; Gas Line Proposal Rejected

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | December 2, 2025

Article Summary: The Will County Public Works Committee approved a $1.9 million engineering contract for improvements to a dangerous stretch of Wilmington-Peotone Road. Officials confirmed the project will add safety features like passing lanes but rejected a suggestion to simultaneously run utility lines to spur development.

Wilmington-Peotone Road Project Key Points:

• Phase I Engineering: The board approved a $1,989,737 contract with Alfred Benesch and Company for design engineering.

• Scope of Work: The project covers the stretch from US Route 45/52 to Center Road in Peotone Township.

• Safety Features: Planned improvements include 10-foot wide shoulders and passing lanes to accommodate heavy truck traffic; the road will not be expanded to four lanes.

• Utility Cost: A proposal to run natural gas main lines during construction to attract housing was deemed too expensive by the county engineer.

JOLIET, Ill. — A project to improve safety along a heavily trafficked corridor in Peotone Township moved forward Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as the Will County Board Public Works Committee authorized a nearly $2 million contract for design engineering.

The project targets Wilmington-Peotone Road between US Route 45/52 and Center Road. Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson noted that public feedback on the corridor has been polarized, with residents split between wanting “no trucks” and requesting a massive expansion to five lanes.

Ronaldson confirmed the county is taking a middle ground focused on safety.

“There’s going to be passing lanes through there to allow opportunities to get around some trucks. Wide 10-foot shoulders,” Ronaldson said. “It is not going to be a multi-lane, four-lane highway.”

Board Member Mark Revis (R-Plainfield) asked if the road construction offered an opportunity to work with utilities to run a natural gas main line down the corridor, suggesting it could help homeowners currently on propane and potentially attract residential development.

Ronaldson pushed back on the idea, citing the immense cost.

“The main line… would be very expensive,” Ronaldson said. “You need thousands of homes in order for that to make sense for a utility company.”

Ronaldson added that current residents in the agricultural area generally oppose dense subdivisions. “I think people in that area want to see more homes… they certainly don’t think they want to see a bunch of subdivisions,” he said.

The committee also approved a speed zone extension for Channahon-Minooka Road (CH 32) and a new speed zone for Golfview Drive in Green Garden Township.