The Homewood Village Board gave its support for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) plan to improve the traffic signal at the intersection of Riegel Road at Holbrook Road at the July 22 meeting.
Joshua Burman, Homewood director of public works, said that the intersection is part of the Intergovernmental Maintenance Agreement, which trustees approved at the June 10 meeting.
“This agreement acknowledges IDOT’s investment of an estimated $454,000 into modernizing the intersection with new traffic control devices, traffic signal cabinet, and street name signs,” Burman said.
Homewood’s contribution to the work is roughly $1,772, which will cover the cost of relocating emergency vehicle preemption devices—equipment that allows emergency responders to trigger a green light as they approach an intersection, he said.
According to Burman, other intersections included in IDOT’s improvement list are:
- I-80 eastbound ramp at Dixie Highway.
- 175th Street at Governors Highway.
- Western Avenue at Joe Orr Road/Country Club Road.
- Governors Highway at Poplar Ave.
The modernizations will result in higher visibility and safety, as well as less confusion at busy intersections. The work is also necessary because some of the aluminum mast arms and signals are over 50 years old, he said.
The project is currently expected to go out for bid on Aug. 1. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2026, though that timeline could be extended to 2027 depending on material availability, Burman said.
