Community Corner
Illinois to Spend $50.2 Million for Route 59 Improvements in Naperville
The project will widen the heavily-traveled corridor to three lanes in both directions .
Gov. Pat Quinn’s office announced Thursday that the state will provide more than $50.2 million for the Route 59 improvement project, the Daily Herald reports.
The project will widen the heavily-traveled corridor to three lanes in both directions from Ferry Road to Aurora Avenue/New York Street. Sidewalks, a shared-use path, noise walls and the reconfiguration of the Interstate 88 interchange will also be constructed.
Construction is expected to begin in August and will take two years to complete.
While the end result will shave travel times and relieve congestion at major intersections along Route 59 such as Diehl Road and Route 59, the construction itself will cause a headache for drivers.
"It will have a significant impact," said Bill Novak, Transportation, Engineering and Development director last month. "People are going to have to budget more time to move north/south through the area and plan accordingly."
Some businesses along Route 59 may also be affected as access to smaller side streets and driveways will be restricted during construction. IDOT and city officials plan to meet with business owners to discuss the project before major construction begins.
The city of Naperville will also keep drivers notified on construction work on their website.
Councilman Bob Fieseler recently said that the city will finally have some "relief on Route 59," once the project is completed.
“This is probably one of the biggest public works projects that this town will see for this decade,” he said at a City Council meeting in May.
Shoppers and commuters may have already noticed some work being done on Route 59 in recent months. Last summer, IDOT crews removed trees along the roadway in preparation for the lane widening project.Patch readers reacted to news of the improvements on Naperville Patch's Facebook page. Here's what they had to say:
I'd rather have a wasps nest dropped on my head than drive on 59 during evening rush hour. - Nick
I travel from Plainfield/South to Naperville and back often for my job. Always avoid 59 when I can! - Emilie
Yep, avoid at all costs during rush hour. If I have to shop or run errands during this time, I head to Plainfield where it's much more calm. - Van
It's horrible from the mall to 88, everywhere else is just fine. -Denise
I avoid Rt 59 whenever possible! - Colleen
59 needs to be widened north of the mall to 88. - Jim
It's fine the way it is. I think the construction is much worse than the current traffic flow. - Melanie
Read more at the Daily Herald
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