Will County Appropriates $3.09 Million for Gougar Road Railroad Project Land

Will County Board | September 17, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, approved $3,088,000 for right-of-way acquisition — by agreement or, if necessary, condemnation — for improvements to Gougar Road where it crosses the Canadian National Railroad in County Board District 2 near New Lenox. The item passed by voice vote with no discussion of the project itself.

Gougar Road Right-of-Way Key Points:

• Resolution 26-297 / 26-5352 appropriates $3,088,000 for right-of-way and related costs on Section 21-00154-19-LA, Gougar Road (CH 52) over the Canadian National Railroad.
• Funding may come from any combination of the county’s Motor Fuel Tax allotment, County RTA Tax, County Highway Tax, County Matching Tax or County Option Motor Fuel Tax funds.
• The resolution authorizes negotiation and purchase and directs the Will County State’s Attorney to institute condemnation proceedings if the county cannot agree with property owners on compensation.
• The resolution describes turn lanes, a traffic signal, roadway reconstruction and drainage improvements; the attached location map is titled “Grade Separation over the CN Railroad.”

WILL COUNTY — The Will County Board on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, authorized the county to begin buying land for a long-planned improvement where Gougar Road meets the Canadian National Railroad, appropriating $3,088,000 under Resolution 26-297 / 26-5352.

Member Judy Ogalla moved the item and Member Herbert Brooks Jr. seconded it. The resolution passed by voice vote, with a previous-question motion by Member Denise Winfrey seconded by Member Katie Deane-Schlottman. No member spoke to the project’s substance.

The resolution identifies Gougar Road (CH 52) over the Canadian National Railroad as Section 21-00154-19-LA, a designated route on the county highway system in County Board District 2. It states the county “believes it would be beneficial to the safety and welfare of the traveling public” if the crossing could be improved with turn lanes, a traffic signal, roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements “and all related work thereto.”

The resolution recites that the county, through its Division of Transportation, has already caused preliminary plans and right-of-way plats to be prepared identifying the land needed, that property appraisals have been completed and associated right-of-way costs estimated, and that an appropriation of funds is now required.

The operative language is broad. The board determined it necessary and desirable that the county acquire title to and possession of all real property within the proposed new right-of-way lines, along with construction and other easements, both temporary and permanent, as outlined in plats of highways prepared under the direction of the Will County Engineer and filed in that office.

The Division of Transportation and its agents are authorized to negotiate with and purchase from owners. Should the county be unable to agree on compensation, the resolution provides that title and possession “shall be acquired by condemnation by Will County,” and directs the Will County State’s Attorney to institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the state’s eminent domain laws.

The $3,088,000 is approved from any combination of the county’s allotment of Motor Fuel Tax funds, County RTA Tax funds, County Highway Tax funds, County Matching Tax funds or County Option Motor Fuel Tax funds. The resolution does not break the appropriation down by parcel or specify how many properties are affected.

A project location map filed with the resolution places the work in the New Lenox area, showing Gougar Road running south from Lincoln Highway and Interstate 80 through the township grid, crossing East Laraway Road and the rail line south of Andrea Drive. The map is titled “Project Location Map — Gougar Road (CH 52) Grade Separation over the CN Railroad.”

Gougar Road also figures in a second item the board handled the same morning: the Phase II engineering agreement for Wilmington-Peotone Road, roughly nine miles south, includes intersection improvements at Gougar Road, Tulley Road and Cedar Road.

Neither the resolution nor the discussion on the floor identified a construction cost, a schedule or a letting date. Both corridors are already in motion: at the board’s Aug. 20, 2026, meeting, members approved three right-of-way acquisition services agreements for a different Gougar Road segment, from Ferro Drive to Francis Road (CH 64) — appraisals with Triple D Valuation Services, review appraisals with Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, and negotiations with Santacruz Land Acquisitions — as well as a reimbursement agreement with Nicor Gas for relocating facilities for the Gougar Road improvement from Spencer Road to Ferro Drive.

The Public Works & Transportation Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2026.