Finding solutions to the increased traffic between Illinois and Indiana is a bi-state effort the Eastern Will County Regional Council continues to seek.
Armed with maps and studies aligning interstate highways along the states’ border, planner Craig Hullinger told council members earlier this month the increased traffic on Interstate Highway 80/94 (Borman Expressway) through Indiana has caused additional truck traffic on local roads along border towns, especially in Beecher along Illinois Highway 1.
To find alternatives, the council has been working toward linking the bi-state communities in joint transportation planning. This work, approved by the council for another year, will continue through funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
A task force of planners and officials from Lake County, Ind., and council members met recently to work toward a transportation plan to reduce traffic hazards along the border towns.
Hullinger, formerly the Will County director of land use, has developed transportation improvement maps that highlight the network of roads between the two states.
“This study examines road connections into Indiana to U.S. Highway 41. There are a number of opportunities to improve road networks in the southern portion of the region where land has not yet been developed. Unfortunately, it’s too late for the realignment of Exchange Street in Crete Township because of a large subdivision. This is what happens when you don’t have a plan in place. Developers don’t look at traffic,” he said.
Hullinger said the two states and both tollway authorities should be encouraged to study extensions of Interstate Highway 355 into Indiana to U.S. 41, Interstate Highway 65 or back to Interstate Highway 80. “This is probably the only practical way to relieve traffic congestion on I-80,” he said.
