Peotone Officials to Lobby for Safety Fixes at Dangerous Route 50 Intersection

Article Summary:

Alarmed by the frequency of accidents, Peotone village officials plan to launch a coordinated effort to demand safety improvements at the intersection of Illinois Route 50 and County Line Road. The board intends to send letters and a potential resolution to state and county officials to “make some noise” about the dangerous crossing, which lies outside village jurisdiction.

Route 50 Intersection Safety Key Points:

• Village trustees expressed serious concerns over frequent and severe accidents at Route 50 and County Line Road.

• Officials plan to send letters to the governor, state legislators, IDOT, and officials from both Will and Kankakee counties demanding action.

• The intersection’s jurisdiction is split, with Route 50 being a state highway and County Line Road being shared by Will and Kankakee counties.

• A stoplight was suggested as the most likely effective solution.

PEOTONE, IL — Peotone village leaders are planning a full-court press to demand safety upgrades at the notoriously dangerous intersection of Route 50 and County Line Road, a site of constant accidents that affects many local residents.

During their meeting Monday, trustees agreed that action was urgently needed, even though the intersection lies outside the village’s direct control. “There’s an accident there every week, at least once a week,” said one trustee. “Something has to be done. I mean I don’t know what it is, but it’s got to be drastic whatever it is.”

The intersection is a jurisdictional crossroads, with Route 50 controlled by the state and County Line Road shared by Will and Kankakee counties. Village Administrator Nick Palmer said that when a state consultant contacted him about using Route 50 as a detour during I-57 construction, the consultant was unaware of the intersection’s dangerous history.

“I think we need to make some noise,” Palmer said. “I think letters from all of you, I don’t know if we want to do a resolution or something.”

The board agreed, directing Palmer to compile a list of contacts so trustees could send letters to the governor, state legislators, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and county officials. Officials believe a traffic signal is the necessary solution.

“They’re going to have to put a stoplight in,” Peotone’s police chief said when asked for his opinion.