For the first time in about a decade, it is beginning to look like an overpass at the railroad tracks at south Gougar Road could be a reality.
With the Canadian National Railway utilizing the tracks, it cuts off the south side of town from the north side at Gougar Road, Nelson Road, Cedar Road, and other streets further east.
"The majority of the work was negotiated many years ago when Canadian National came in," Village Administrator Kurt Carroll said. "There was a major amount of money, half a million, spent in going for not only in going for the study, but the first phase (of engineering) of making sure the possibility of an overpass."
Gougar Road is not owned by the village, but owned by the county and the village has partnered with it because of the effect on New Lenox residents. It is also the only possible spot to put an overpass, as it would not work at Nelson, Cedar or other roads, Mayor Tim Baldermann said.
"We're in a position to go after some major funds (now)," Carroll said. "Having a phase one completed, it puts in a position to not only go for money for the bridge, but also money for the second phase that would have to be done in engineering."
Carroll said the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is also trying to cobble some grants together.
The negotiations started around 2009.
Completing phase one of engineering is a must in order to make this project a reality. It would still be years out of happening.
"It's absolutely necessary," Baldermann said.
"It's something that everyone realizes from a safety perspective," he said. "We have stations and mutual aid (on the south side), but sometimes they have have to cross the tracks to get back to the hospital."
The likely multimillion-dollar project would stem from a lot of grants, but the process in going after the funds is still in progress.
However, the possibility exists that the funding isn't there, but it is looking the best it ever has.
"A few years ago, I'd tell people not to hold their breath on this," Baldermann said. "Certainly, we've done what we can do to get it to this point, but this is the first time it has looked promising.
Nothing has been voted on or finalized.