The Will County Board Thursday voted 12-9 to stop a planned project to widen about 3 miles of 143rd Street in Homer Glen after months of protests from residents and elected officials.
After the vote, Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said both village and Homer Township officials worked together to convince the county board the project would adversely affect the town’s rural charm and create unwanted traffic, congestion and noise.
“I’m so proud of our residents for standing by what they believed in,” Neitzke-Troike said. “We were told it couldn’t be done, but residents kept pushing forward to fight for their property.”
Engineering work to widen 143rd Street to five lanes from State Street/Lemont Road to Bell Road began in 2009 and the county has been negotiating with property owners to acquire 116 easements necessary for expansion. The road is one lane in each direction.
For several months, members of the community have been asking county officials to stop the project.
“We incorporated because we wanted to preserve what we have in our village, community and nature in harmony,” Homer Glen Trustee Sue Steilen said. “To us progress is preserving our community.”
Homer Glen resident Mikie Smit speaks against the 143rd Street expansion. (Michelle Mullins/for Daily Southtown)
Residents said the widened road would bring more pollution and noise, encourage speeding, cut down mature trees, displace wildlife and take portions of their land. Several residents said they moved to Homer Glen from busier Cook County communities for its rural setting. Because of the section’s proximity to Interstate 355, residents said they were concerned an expanded 143rd Street would become a truck route.
“By transforming it into a busy thoroughfare, we risk disrupting the very essence of what makes this place special,” resident Kimberly Pady said. “We must consider the detrimental impact on the mental health of residents. We cannot overlook the importance of preserving spaces where people feel safe, at peace and connected to nature.”
County board member Frankie Pretzel, a Republican from New Lenox, said the residents’ campaign changed his mind. Pretzel, like several board members, said it was a tough decision.
Residents have attended county board meetings en masse and emailed and texted board members. Nearly 20 residents spoke against the widening Thursday and emails from constituents were read aloud for almost two hours. More than 200 residents attended a recent Homer Glen town hall meeting to voice their opposition.
“We represent the people, not projects,” said board member Dan Butler, a Republican from Frankfort. “I cannot see any hardship that should outweigh peoples’ property rights.”
The project was supported by more than a dozen mayors, mostly from Cook County communities, who urged the Will County Board to continue with the widening, citing its significance to the region. Mayors wrote the expansion would improve safety and accessibility and promote economic development in Will County and southwest Cook County.
Mayors from Orland Park, Lemont, Lockport and Mokena were among those supporting the widening.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau speaks in favor of the 143rd Street expansion. (Michelle Mullins/for Daily Southtown)
“The residents opposing this haven’t opposed Orland Park’s efforts to widen 143rd Street because they enjoy the convenience of getting to medical, restaurants and shopping in Orland Park,” Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said. “They enjoy the conveniences borne by the sacrifices of others and being part of the region. … As much as these residents and the village of Homer Glen like to think it’s an island, it’s not.”
Board member Elnalyn Costa, a Democrat from Bolingbrook, said she drove 143rd Street both during the day and at night, but did not feel safe.
She said she noticed several roadside memorial markers along the stretch, and the driver behind her was tailgating her with the only options to head into a ditch or into oncoming traffic if a situation arose.
“This is a public road,” Costa said. “We should have free and safe passage through.”
Mark Revis, a Republican from Plainfield, said the Will County Board has supported the widening during at least 11 separate votes since 2009, and it should continue.
Joe VanDuyne, chair of the county board’s Transportation Committee, said a December study saw more than 14,200 cars travel that section daily, which exceeds the minimum threshold for multiple lanes.
VanDuyne, a Democrat from Wilmington, said stopping the project would waste money.
Will County has spent more than $6.2 million so far on the project, which included engineering and design costs and relocating utilities, said Jeff Ronaldson, the county’s transportation director. The county has also been awarded a $7 million federal grant that must be used on the construction design as planned, he said.
The project’s price tag was about $60 million.
“There’s all kinds of places you can use that money,” said board Republican Leader Steve Balich of Homer Glen, who has been a vocal opponent of the widening.
Homer Glen resident Mikie Smit said just because the board has already invested money doesn’t mean the project should continue. He said it would be best to cut their losses and not spend more money on a project the residents oppose.
Homer Glen residents and officials want the county to study adding a third turning lane, though Ronaldson said that would still require the county to acquire about the same amount of easement due to detention issues.
The board in November authorized the use of quick take proceedings for land acquisition.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
