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mokenamessenger.com news
the Mokena Messenger | June 28, 2018 | 5
I-80 grant to improve safety at Route 30 interchange
Megan Schuller
Freelance Reporter
Interstate 80 has been aging
for years without the
funds to fix aesthetic problems
and design flaws that
often lead to accidents. A
recent grant awarded federal
funds to Illinois Department
of Transportation to help improve
the safety of the interstate
for residents.
Out of 46 applications requesting
close to $600 million
in national highway
freight funds, about half of
the applications from across
Illinois were chosen, two of
which impact Will County.
More than $240 million in
National Highway Freight
Program through 2022 will
be dedicated to the projects
and the rest needed to complete
the projects will be
matched by $90 million in
state and private funds.
The two projects within
Will County will receive $54
million from IDOT’s Competitive
Freight Program.
The total cost reconstructing
I-80 and the U.S. Route
30 interchange is $43 million.
The grant will contribute
more than $34 million
to the project. The I-80 and
Route 30 interchange directs
truck traffic of the local intermodal
facilities and daily
commuters from across the
area.
“Illinois’ central location
makes it a vital transportation
hub for the nation,
and Will County is at the
center of it,” State Rep.
Margo McDermed said in
a press release. “This new
grant is a great opportunity
to invest in a project
that will not only maintain
our state’s commitment to
that status, but improve
the quality of life for residents
in the 37th district
by improving safety along
these highly trafficked corridors.”
Will County Board Member
Ray Tuminello said that
the I-80 grant is exciting and
needed.
“I-80 is disastrous,” Tuminello
said. “The state can’t
come up with the money to
fix it all at once but projects
like this chip away and impact
Mokena, New Lenox
and surrounding areas.”
Tuminello said that they
teamed up with IDOT and
local government before
submitting the applications.
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann
and Mokena Mayor
Frank A. Fleischer joined
the initiative to support the
application.
“We could make an application
but the support of the
local mayors and legislators
made it possible,” Tuminello
said. “It’s the first step of
many projects to alleviate
congestion and the growing
economy of freight traffic.
It will help make it safer for
residents in Will County.”
New Lenox Mayor Tim
Balderman said that he is
excited about the improvements
that will be coming
along the interstate.
“It’s been a dangerous entrance
and exit there for quite
some time,” Balderman said.
“There’s a lot of work that
needs to be done on I-80, but
we’re glad to see this portion
of it being completed. Not
only is it good for safety, but
it will also help with development
on the west end of
town and clean all that up.”
A Community Friendly
Freight Mobility Study and
Plan was completed in September
2017, which outlined
the increasing truck traffic
issues in the county and
their role in Will County’s
economy. The Freight Study
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently received a federal grant, with a portion
of the money benefiting projects in Will County. One of them will be to improve the area at
Interstate 80 near Route 30 for it to be a safer roadway. Will Rehm/22nd Century Media
showed that Will County is
North America’s largest inland
port, with $65 billion
worth of products transported
in 2016. More than
3 million international and
domestic containers flow
through the port each year.
The other project was
awarded $20 million for the
143rd Street extension in
Plainfield.
This project totals nearly
$30 million, and intends
to re-route traffic from IL
Route 126.
“Both of these projects are
in highly populated areas of
our county,” Walsh said in
a press release. “When finished,
these improvements
will improve traffic flow
along these roadways. We
are very thankful to IDOT
for recognizing the importance
of these projects to the
region.”
For more information
about the freight plan, visit
www.willcountyfreight.org.
education
From Page 3
and their plans for college.
Lincoln-Way West graduate
Raquel Chavez plans to
attend Valparaiso University
in the fall. Chavez said that
winning the scholarship from
LWABWO was extra special
for her since she hopes to do
the same kind of work after
she receives her degree.
“This scholarship is my
favorite one I applied for,”
Chavez said. “The whole organization
is about women
supporting other women and
their education. That’s the
field I want to go into with
women’s rights and women’s
education. That’s basically
what I want to do with my
life: support the growth of
other women’s education.”
The scholarship banquet
has been held since the mid
1990’s, when the club shifted
its focus on scholarships for
women and girls.
Kathy Klevorn said the
local organization giving
back to its youth within the
community gives the young
women successful people to
look up to.
“It’s a big advantage for our
students to have this group
in our community because
these women are role models,
as well,” Kathy said. “They
come together and provide
opportunities for our girls going
forward,” Kathy said.
Her daughter, Grace
Klevorn, a recent Lincoln-
Way Central graduate and
future University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign student,
plans to go into business in
college.
“It’s a male-dominated industry,
and it’s very helpful
to get this monetary gift to
further my education so I can
make a difference in the business
world,” Grace said.
The organization provided
$1,000 to girls graduating
high school who are going on
to a four-year school and to
women who want to go back
to school to continue their
education. A scholarship of
$500 was awarded to high
school girls going on to a junior
college or trade school.
The scholarship winners
have chosen to study fields
of business, engineering, political
science and healthcare
from schools from across the
nation.
The organization raises
money each year for the
scholarships at their annual
holiday auction in December
at the VFW in New Lenox.
“All the money made that
night is what we have to use
for scholarships that spring,”
said Cheryl Colanto, chair of
the scholarship committee.
“The purpose of our scholarship
is to help defray the cost
of higher education by providing
some financial assistance
to women and girls in
the Lincoln-Way community.
Kayla Jandek, a Lincoln
Way West graduate and future
Eastern Illinois University
student, said she hopes to
pay it forward down the road.
“This scholarship means
a lot to me because it shows
my hard work has paid off,”
Jandek said. “Once I graduate
I can give back and help
students further their career.”
Normally, the committee
receives between 50 to 80 applications
for the scholarships.
They had to narrow it down
to 17 through an intensive
interview process. The organization
based their applicant
selections on the strength of
their academics, the personal
essay they wrote, their report
cards, and the reference letters
from teachers and mentors.
After the ceremony Cheryl
Colanto was recognized for
her 14 years of service as the
scholarship committee chair.
“It’s really a great opportunity
to help young people,”
Colanto said during the ceremony.