Laraway Road Railroad Overpass Bridge: Joliet Reveals 'Location Is One Of The Most Challenging In State'

JOLIET, IL — If you are driving on Joliet's far east side, out toward Elwood, you know that it's one of the most heavily congested areas thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of semi-trailers coming and going from the CenterPoint intermodal, the largest inland port in the country.

On Thursday, city of Joliet officials revealed that something good is in the works; the city is now moving forward with the traffic engineering phase for a new overpass on Laraway Road near the Centerpoint Way.

According to Joliet, "this location is one of the most challenging rail crossings in the state with frequent train traffic and crossing gates that require frequent repairs. The new overpass will take Laraway Road over the railroad tracks, eliminating the crossing and creating a safer, more reliable route for drivers."

There is now awebsite called Laraway Overpass where you can learn more about the project and its history. "The Phase I study will include refined analysis of IL Route 53 and potential capacity improvements. Laraway Road will be developed as a four lane roadway which satisfies both the near term and future traffic demands. Non-vehicular travel will be addressed utilizing a multi-use path on the north side of Laraway Road.

"The corridor also supports major regional employers and freight centers, including CenterPoint Intermodal Center and nearby industrial facilities. Addressing these conflicts will improve mobility, safety, and reliability for all roadway users."