Houbolt Road Extension Between I-80, CenterPoint Center Now Open

JOLIET, IL — A new direct route between Interstate 80 and CenterPoint Intermodal Center that officials said will significantly reduce traffic on local streets and cut down on travel time for local truckers and motorists as well as cut down on the area's carbon footprint opened for business on Thursday morning, officials announced.

The Houbolt Road Extension opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday, which creates the direct route from I-80 and cuts down on traffic congestion, officials said. The Houbolt Road Extension is a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties and officials said the route will provide more direct access to the expressway.

The direct access will shorten commute times for local drivers, officials said, and will benefit the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, which is considered the nation’s largest inland port which services as many as 20,000 trucks per day, officials said.

The Houbolt Road Extension uses an all-electronic system that accepts toll payments through I-PASS, E-ZPass, and Pay by Plate to keep traffic moving smoothly. The tolling mechanism is located between the bridge and US Route 6 and toll rates are tiered based on vehicle class, which is determined by vehicle height, width, and length.

For drivers paying with a transponder, the rate for light passenger vehicles is $2, medium vehicles are $4 and large vehicles are $8. Pay-by-Plate rates include an additional $3.50 administrative fee for each crossing.

The new bridge will allow truckers to maximize their hours behind the wheel while also allowing companies to optimize their resources.

Project leaders say this shorter route into the CIC will have also provide positive environmental impacts by reducing vehicle miles traveled and idling. Leaders say the Houbolt Road Extension will reduce the CIC’s carbon footprint annually.

Employees within the CIC will enjoy shorter commutes, while those traveling local roads will experience substantially less truck traffic, officials with the bridge project announced.

“United Bridge Partners is honored to serve the Joliet community by funding, building, and operating the Houbolt Road Extension,” United Bridge Project President and CEO Doug Witt said in a news release. “Teamed with CenterPoint Properties, together we were able to rebuild and enhance the road and bridge infrastructure in Illinois. We are proud to open a new road to economic growth and prosperity that will advance the entire region for years to come.”

The privately financed project involved designing and building a 1.5-mile-long highway extension, including a nearly half-mile-long bridge over the Des Plaines River. HRE-JV financed and constructed the project and will operate and maintain the bridge while collecting tolls under a 99-year lease agreement with the City of Joliet.

Construction began on March 8, 2021, and was completed in just over two years.

"Over the past 20 years, the CIC has grown into an invaluable part of the supply chains of many of the world's leading companies. A new, third access point to the park is critical, and we're excited to open the extension to manage traffic within CIC productively," Michael Murphy, CenterPoint's chief development officer said in a news release.

"The HRE is a shining example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal entities partner with private companies to impact communities positively. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationships with community groups and leaders in the cities surrounding the CIC.”