Public Works Committee Considers Taking Over Kankakee County Line Road to Expedite Bridge Repairs

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Division of Transportation (WCDOT) is exploring a jurisdictional transfer of a section of County Line Road from Kankakee County to facilitate necessary bridge replacements. The committee discussed the potential benefits of taking over the road to ensure consistent maintenance and construction standards.

Kankakee County Line Road Key Points:

• The Request: Kankakee County inquired if Will County would take jurisdiction of County Line Road between IL Route 50 and Will-Center Road.

• Infrastructure Needs: Two bridge structures in this “Zone A” section require replacement, estimated at $2.3 million.

• Cost Responsibility: Due to assessed property values, Will County is statutorily responsible for approximately 90% of the bridge costs regardless of which county owns the road.

• Potential Swap: Officials discussed a potential road swap where Will County takes the western section (Zone A) and Kankakee takes a section east of IL Route 1 (Zone C), though committee members leaned toward Will County maintaining the entire corridor.

The Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, discussed a proposal to assume jurisdiction over a 4.3-mile stretch of Kankakee County Line Road to facilitate infrastructure improvements and improve road continuity.

Director of Transportation Jeff Ronaldson presented a request from the Kankakee County Highway Department regarding the section of County Line Road between IL Route 50 and Will-Center Road. Kankakee County is currently initiating design contracts to reconstruct two bridge structures in that corridor.

Under state statute 605 ILCS 5/5-503, Will County is responsible for paying approximately 90% of the cost for these bridges based on the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of the two counties, even if the road remains under Kankakee’s jurisdiction.

“We have to look at the big picture,” Ronaldson said. “The 2050 plan did call out that this corridor actually does need to be reconstructed because it’s narrow lanes, narrow shoulders, and we have seen a significant amount of truck traffic increase in that area.”

Ronaldson noted that traffic counts show 3,400 vehicles per day on that stretch, with 13% being truck traffic.

The committee discussed various options, including a “swap” where Will County would take the western section (Zone A) and give Kankakee County jurisdiction over the section east of IL Route 1 (Zone C). However, Ronaldson advised that Will County has recently invested significantly in improving the eastern section.

“You’ve spent quite a bit of money on that east side there and done a lot to where it will last whoever owns it a great amount of time,” Ronaldson said.

Committee Member Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet) expressed support for Will County taking jurisdiction over the entire corridor to ensure consistent quality.

“I would be in favor, Jeff, of us taking the whole thing and working that into the plan. That way we can govern the condition of the road, how it’s set up, and the whole thing,” Winfrey said.

The committee directed Ronaldson to continue discussions with Kankakee County regarding the transfer and to negotiate a potentially more favorable cost-sharing agreement for the bridge work. The proposal affects the townships of Peotone and Will.