Oswego applying for grant to expand Route 30, Wolfs Crossing intersection

Oswego village trustees are hoping a federal grant will help the village make improvements to the increasingly busy intersection of Route 30 and Wolfs Crossing on the village’s east side.

At the Jan. 7 Oswego Village Board meeting, trustees approved applying for the grant to help fund the project, expected to cost $21.3 million. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.

“This project is an integral part of our community’s comprehensive transportation plan,” village engineer Philip Tartaglia wrote in a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Its primary objectives are to enhance safety, alleviate congestion and stimulate sustainable economic growth within the region. These improvements are crucial not only for the well-being of our residents but also for fostering greater connectivity and accessibility across our transportation network.”

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2029. In December 2023, the village’s first roundabout opened at Wolfs Crossing and Harvey Road as part of the first segment of the Wolfs Crossing improvement project.

According to the Wolfs Crossing Project Development Report, the existing signalized intersection of Route 30 with Wolfs Crossing Road will need to be expanded to accommodate the future traffic needs in the area. The project will add turn lanes.

Route 30 is designated as a truck route. The village would be responsible for 20% of the project’s cost, or $4.3 million, while the federal share would be $17 million.

“After discussion with Illinois Department of Transportation, the 20% match will be shared equally, resulting in a 10% contribution from the village,” Tartaglia said in a memo to village trustees.

In addition, Buttigieg said preliminary discussions with the city of Aurora indicate a willingness to participate in the local contribution for the portion of the project from Route 30 to Eola Road.

The village’s portion of Wolfs Crossing spans from east of Route 30 to its junction at Routes 34 and 71, about 4.5 miles. The expansion project will be completed in segments.

Engineering plans have been finalized for the second segment, which includes widening Wolfs Crossing to five lanes and building a roundabout at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas Road. The segment extends from the west side of the new Piper Glen subdivision to the south leg of Douglas Road.

A water main between Della Lane and Fifth Street will be added in conjunction with the project. The intersection of Wolfs Crossing and Douglas Road will remain open to traffic during construction.

Completion of the second segment is anticipated in 2026.