Laraway Road at Union Pacific Railroad Crossing
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is working together with the City of Joliet and other stakeholders to study potential improvements at the Laraway Road at-grade crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad and the accompanying highway section from Brandon Road to IL Route 53 in the City of Joliet.
Using technical information and public engagement, the study identified a range of solutions to address delay, safety, and freight network reliability. The alternatives include grade separations and other options. We are seeking public input regarding the project Purpose and Need and the Alternatives to Carry Forward for further study. For a quick overview, download the Laraway Road Project Brochure!
Public input opportunities: we want to hear from you!
The public input meeting was held on April 14 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. CST
Please see a recording of the meeting here.
View the online presentations in the forum tab below, then participate in the discussion.
Print, fill out, and mail the survey included in the Project Brochure.
The public comment period has closed. We thank everyone for their feedback. Please reach out to CMAP project staff Tom Murtha at tmurtha@cmap.illinois.gov for questions. You may also call Tom at 312-386-8649.
Submit a comment in the public comment tab below.
Public Comments
Thank you for your feedback. We received your submissions which will all be included in the Laraway Road at Union Pacific Railroad Crossing final report. Please reach out if you have additional questions or comments.
Putting a bridge over the Laraway Road tracks would solve problems just like a bridge on Arsenal Road did many years ago. I wish the Dollar Tree traffic exiting Dollar Tree warehouse could come out on Laraway road instead of trying to cross Route 53. This is a real issue with trucks blocking both south bound lanes if traffic is backed up north bound. Thanks
Ride Illinois is happy to share feedback about this project. Our feedback focuses on making Laraway Road and the Union Pacific Railroad crossing safer and more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
There’s a school along Laraway, but it’s no longer used. There’s a (not very well maintained) north-side side path along parts of this segment, according to Google imagery, but there are gaps without anything along a road that’s completely unsafe for cyclists. There are lots of jobs west of there in a huge transportation/trucking area. Further east along Laraway is the Wauponsee Glacial Trail which comes from Joliet and heads south.
The brochure says under #2, “Future pedestrian and bicycles accommodations.” To us, that sounds like they’re going to go through all this work to rebuild the road, but only leave a “shelf” for a side path trail to be added in a separate project at some unknown point in the future.
Strava Metro data shows a low to medium level of use in this area by bicyclists. We feel adding shelves is far from good enough in order to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. The side path should be included, in its entirety, in the upcoming project.