Officials Hope to Complete Lily Cache Contruction by Winter

The massive upheaval to Lily Cache Lane that has led to countless traffic jams and angry drivers is expected to be completed by the time snow hits the ground this year, officials hope.

More than 12,000 cars travel on Lily Cache on a daily basis, said Michael Drey, Bolingbrook's director of public works. On most days, thousands of those drivers are stuck in long traffic jams because of road construction that will eventually turn Lily Cache into a four-lane road from Route 53 all the way to Veterans Parkway.

During busy times of the day, such as rush hour or hours when school lets out— Bolingbrook High School sits just on the construction site's edge — drivers traveling west on Lily Cache can expect delays of nearly 40 minutes.

"It has seemingly taken forever, I know," Drey said. "But (construction crews) have not exceeded the number of days that were allotted to them. We have had some inconveniences with people that live there, and I have a great deal of sympathy for them. But hopefully come winter, they will be driving on brand-new pavement."

The Lily Cache construction is nothing new. Crews have been working on the project for years.

In fact, the construction on Lily Cache between Quadrangle Drive and Schmidt Road is Phase 3 of a four-phase project that Drey said will cost roughly $15 million.

 The fourth phase will tackle the area between Schmidt and Veterans as early as next spring. The project is in the process of being bid out by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Still, the headaches caused by the traffic jams are legitimate, and Drey said he has heard from his fair share of angry citizens.

Bolingbrook Fire Department Battalion Chief Dan Graff, who mans Station 2 on Lily Cache — which enters and exits right in the thick of the construction — said dealing with the construction has gone about as smoothly as possible.

"We have always been made aware of construction dates and time frames and they were always very accommodating," he said. "The station has had both access in and out of the station. Now obviously we hit some traffic down the road, but we use our air sirens and eventually people move over and do their best to get out of our way.

"But any time construction is done, it's not easier on anybody. We live in town as well and it would certainly be easier with no construction," Graff said.

The benefits of completing construction on Lily Cache are two-fold. Not only will the completed four-lane road ease congestion for the 12,000 drivers who travel Lily Cache every day, but the revamped road also will ease congestion on Bolingbrook's busiest street — Boughton Road — Drey said.

"Once it's done, I think there's going to be a great east-west flow through town," Drey said. "Right now, the only true through road is Boughton Road. This is going to help a lot because it will add a second true east-west road."

Drey said the village is picking up roughly half the tab for the $12 million project, with Bolingbrook High School, federal funds and money from the developer also contributing.