The pieces are coming together for a roadway extension project officials say will alleviate traffic throughout Will County.

The Plainfield Village Board Monday authorized spending $7,500 to buy a parcel along 143rd Street near Route 59 from Ravago America Inc.

Allen Persons, public works director for the village, said the property is needed to construct the proposed 143rd Street roadway extension. Initially, according to Persons, an appraiser hired by the village said the property was worth $6,000. Though the village received a counteroffer from the owner’s attorney for $41,091, the village did not accept the proposal and continued with negotiations, he added.

The second counteroffer of $7,500 was later accepted, Persons said.

“The increase in the proposed compensation from the original offer of $6,000 represents a 20 percent increase,” said Persons. “The date of report for the appraisal conducted for this parcel is Sept. 21,2020, and real estate prices have been increasing during the time since the appraisal was conducted.

“Given the high cost associated with settling eminent domain cases in Will County and in the interest of keeping the proposed project on schedule,” Persons continued, “I feel it is in the best interest of the village to accept the counteroffer presented by Ravago America in the amount of $7,500.”

Following nearly three decades of meetings and negotiations, the Village of Plainfield this summer began acquiring land to construct the controversial extension between Route 59 and Route 126. Approximately 11 parcels adjacent to Route 59 and Route 126 will need to be acquired to construct the roadway.

Persons said Plainfield has already received three grants for the project. They are federal/state Surface Transportation Program fund for $4.5 million; Illinois Competitive Freight Fund for $20.3 million; and the federal/state Shared Surface Transportation Fund for $17.18 million. The village is planning to use $5,446,400 of the federal grant funding for property acquisitions.

Persons said the goal of the project is to provide alternate routes within Plainfield to alleviate traffic congestion. The additional crossing over the DuPage River will allow quicker and more convenient access between Route 59 and Route 126 while reducing truck traffic in the downtown area. When combined with the western extension of 143rd Street, this agreement will complete the entire corridor between Ridge Road and Route 126.

Future project costs for the extension are estimated around $66 million. Money for the project will be funded through the capital improvement fund and will be split over multiple fiscal years. One acquisition is complete, which, according to Persons, could take a year or longer, it is possible construction could begin in 2022.  Bidding process started in fall 2021.

The western extension of 143rd Street will be completed by developer obligations and the village. As part of the overall project, a traffic signal will be installed at Meadow Lane and potentially at Ridge Road.