Monee to Formalize Opposition to Proposed I-57/394 Connector Road

The Village of Monee is preparing a formal report to Will County and state officials outlining its opposition to two proposed routes for a new connector road between I-57 and IL 394, a project residents fear could drastically alter the community.

The move comes after a public meeting on the project hosted by the Will County Department of Transportation left many residents feeling unheard. At the village board meeting Wednesday, officials announced they would consolidate their objections into a detailed document and create a petition for residents to sign.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Bill Kabi expressed the community’s frustration.

“A few weeks ago, I, like many of you and some of the citizens here, attended what was to be an information meeting about the possible connector,” Kabi said. “And it turned out to be a huge disappointment. There was no exchange or discussion from the public.”

Kabi noted the growing opposition on social media and suggested a unified village effort would be more effective than scattered petitions. “I was wondering if the village has considered getting a forum together where we can address the county officials, our state officials… rather than, you know, 20 signatures here, 10 signatures there,” he proposed.

Village Administrator Ruben Bautista confirmed that the administration is already taking action.

“Currently the village is preparing a document, a report for the county board, the director of transportation, and it’s in conjunction with our civil engineers,” Bautista responded. “So we’re putting this document together why it would be detrimental for these two proposed routes.”

The report, expected to be completed within days, will include an abbreviated version of the village’s comprehensive plan to demonstrate how the proposed roadways would conflict with Monee’s near- and long-term development goals.

Once finalized, the village plans to make the report and an accompanying petition available for the public.

“What we can do is have the document here and just have folks come into the village hall and just sign, and then we’ll attach signatures to the report as well,” Bautista said. He added that the final package will be sent to every Will County Board member, the County Executive, and the Director of Transportation.

Trustee John Henson suggested creating an online version of the petition to make it more accessible to residents who cannot make it to the village hall. Village staff confirmed they would explore creating a writable online document.

The project, known as the South Suburban Freeway, has been discussed for decades. The current phase, led by Will County, is a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study to determine a preferred route for an east-west corridor connecting I-57 in Monee to IL 394 near Crete, traversing unincorporated parts of Monee and Crete Townships.

Officials encouraged residents to continue making their voices heard through all available channels, including the official project website, which has a section for public comments, and by attending Will County Board meetings.