Public Works Committee: $18.8 Million Contract Awarded for Lorenzo Road Bridge Over BNSF Railway

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026

Article Summary: A contract for nearly $18.9 million was confirmed for the construction of a new bridge carrying Lorenzo Road over the BNSF Railway. The project, fully funded by BNSF, is critical for safety and serves as a nuclear evacuation route.

Lorenzo Road Bridge Project Key Points:

• Contractor: “D” Construction, Inc. of Coal City, IL.

• Bid Amount: $18,872,967.20.

• Project Scope: Construction of a new grade separation (bridge) to replace the at-grade crossing.

• Timeline: Construction is estimated to start in February 2026 with completion by November 2027.

The Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, confirmed the award of an $18,872,967.20 contract to “D” Construction, Inc. for the construction of a bridge carrying Lorenzo Road (County Highway 80) over the BNSF Railway.

The project is located in County Board District 1. According to Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson, the project is being funded entirely by BNSF Railway but administered by the county.

“They are funding the entirety of this project. We have to build it because we’re named in the ICC order and related to the grant, but they will reimburse us in total,” Ronaldson said.

The project addresses a significant bottleneck caused by the BNSF rail yard expansion. Trains often slow down or stop while entering the yard, blocking the crossing for extended periods.

“You got those two-mile trains closing that crossing for a significant amount of time,” Ronaldson explained.

Committee Member Dave Oxley (R-Lockport) noted the road’s importance as an evacuation route for the nearby nuclear power plant. Ronaldson confirmed this factor contributed to the project’s priority.

A temporary runaround road will be constructed to keep traffic flowing during the project. The contract calls for completion by November 19, 2027.