Will County Advances Nearly $1.5 Million in Right-of-Way and Improvement Agreements for Weber, Gougar, and Laraway Roads

Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting | March 3, 2026

Article Summary: The Public Works and Transportation Committee authorized a slate of professional services and construction agreements Tuesday to facilitate major corridor expansions and property acquisitions across Will County.

Roadway Projects Key Points:

• Over $353,000 was approved for right-of-way acquisition services on Weber Road from Airport Road to 135th Street.

• Three separate agreements totaling over $240,000 were passed for right-of-way appraisals and negotiations on Gougar Road between Spencer Road and Ferro Drive.

• A $959,625 reimbursement agreement with Northern Builders was advanced for improvements on Laraway Road.

The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee on Tuesday, March 3, unanimously pushed forward a package of land acquisition and engineering agreements totaling nearly $1.5 million to pave the way for heavy corridor expansions in New Lenox, Frankfort, and Romeoville.

To facilitate the widening of Weber Road (County Highway 88) from Airport Road to 135th Street in District 9, the committee approved a $353,650.00 professional services agreement with Elgin-based Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. The contract covers appraisals, review appraisals, and negotiations for 43 separate parcels of property. The funds will be drawn from a combination of Motor Fuel Tax, RTA Tax, and County Highway Tax funds.

The board also took major steps toward the improvement of Gougar Road (County Highway 52) between Spencer Road and Ferro Drive, impacting Districts 2 and 5 in the New Lenox area. To secure the necessary land, the committee passed three separate, highly specialized right-of-way contracts:

• A $75,500.00 agreement with Triple D Valuation Services, Inc. for initial property appraisals on 28 parcels.

• A $37,750.00 agreement with Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc. to conduct review appraisals on those 28 parcels, a requirement for federally funded projects.

• A $127,400.00 agreement with Santacruz Land Acquisitions to handle the actual negotiations with the property owners.

Further south, the committee advanced a massive $959,625.00 construction reimbursement agreement with Northern Builders LLC for improvements to Laraway Road (County Highway 74) from Cherry Hill Road to Nelson Road in District 2.

According to the agenda packet, the county is actively working to widen that specific stretch of Laraway Road to a four-lane roadway with a center barrier median. Concurrently, Northern Builders is developing a 61.8-acre commercial warehousing site adjacent to the road. Under the agreement, the county will reimburse Northern Builders to construct a specific Laraway Road stormwater bypass system designed to benefit the roadway expansion. In exchange, Northern Builders will donate the required right-of-way, permanent easements, and temporary easements to the county at no cost.

Finally, the committee authorized an agreement with BP Midwest Product Pipelines Holdings LLC. The county will reimburse BP an estimated $16,305.00 to relocate certain utility facilities currently residing in their easement to make way for the upcoming improvements to Francis Road from Gougar Road to Interstate 80 in District 5.

All agreements passed unanimously and will head to the full Will County Board for final approval.