Glen Carbon’s long-anticipated shared-use path project is entering its final stretch, signaling a major milestone for pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters who travel through one of the village’s busiest corridors. Public Works Director Scott Slemer confirmed on Nov. 13 that the first two phases of the pathway along Glen Carbon Road are nearly finished.
The project installs a new 10-foot-wide asphalt trail connecting Schon Park to Mark Trail Drive. Once complete, the route will offer a continuous, safer option for residents who walk or bike in the area—an option many have waited years to see built.
"They've got a little bit of seeding straw left to do. They're going to do a little bit of work on the asphalt and then they've got to install the crossings," Slemer said. "But for the most part, it's substantially complete."
The total cost of the multi-phase project is more than $2 million, with more than $1.8 million funded through state and federal grants—an investment local officials say helps offset the financial burden on the village while delivering major community benefits.
Despite intermittent traffic delays over the past several months, residents say the village has handled the project smoothly.
"I just want to compliment the work that's going on with the shared-use path," resident Wes Searcy said. "The project is obviously taking a lot of pain with the traffic control that was necessary, but they did so in a very safe manner. Quite honestly, we're really talking with residents in the area. They're ecstatic at seeing the improvement that's coming our way and are looking forward to the project's completion."
The third phase, scheduled for 2027, will extend the trail from Mark Trail Drive to Illinois 159, creating an even larger network of safe, multi-use connections across Glen Carbon.
As the shared-use path winds down, Glen Carbon is gearing up for one of its most complex infrastructure undertakings—the Illinois 157/162 realignment. The village is currently relocating utilities to pave the way for a full roadway reconstruction led by IDOT.
"The water main portion of that is just about complete," Slemer said. "They should be starting on the forced main section soon."
He added that the goal is to have all utilities moved by the end of November, a requirement before IDOT can break ground.
The project, delayed for years because of land acquisition and right-of-way challenges, will straighten the offset intersection of Illinois 157 and 162, improving safety, reducing bottlenecks, and accommodating growing traffic volumes.
When construction begins in 2026, drivers will see:
With an estimated cost of $25 million and an 18–24-month construction timeline, the project is one of the largest transportation improvements Glen Carbon has undertaken in decades.
.webp)
Another improvement is underway at the intersection of Cottonwood Road, Glen Carbon Road, and Illinois 159—one of the village’s most congested locations.
"They've slowly been working on that," Slemer said. "I think they've just about got most of the storm sewer work complete, so I anticipate they will start working on the pavement very soon."
The $1.7 million project includes:
Located near Walgreens and the ZX gas station, the upgrades are especially important for drivers traveling through the intersection during rush hours, who have long experienced delays due to limited turn-lane capacity.
The project is funded using a combination of federal grant dollars and local motor fuel tax revenue. Construction is expected to wrap up in early 2026.
Originally reported by Jason Koch,Editor in The Intelligencer.
