PLAINFIELD – State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) is excited to announce construction will begin soon on much-needed improvements to the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and Champion Road in Will County.

Bertino-Tarrant secured more than $900,000 in funding to install a traffic signal at the intersection after residents started several petitions and reached out to her office for assistance. The signal will aid drivers while crossing lanes and making a left turn onto northbound Route 59 from their subdivisions during rush hour. 

“This intersection has been a safety hazard for years, and we must take steps to make these construction improvements sooner than later,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “This stoplight will go a long way toward increasing road safety and reducing the number of accidents at the busy crossroad during rush hour traffic.”

Work will also be done to reconstruct the median, install ADA-compliant sidewalks and make drainage improvements at the intersection.

Residents of Naperville’s South Pointe subdivision claimed that given the size, traffic volume and speed at which cars travel through this intersection, a traffic signal was warranted at this location. Their input and Bertino-Tarrant’s advocacy led the Illinois Department of Transportation to speed up the timeline for the traffic signal to be installed and road improvements to be made.

Bertino-Tarrant secured funding for this vital traffic improvement under the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program.

“The construction of this new traffic signal illustrates that government works best when elected officials are in constant communication with constituents,” Bertino-Tarrant said.