Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Vol. 19 No. 16
Voyager Media Publications • shorewoodsentinel.com
TraNsPorTaTIoN
local
Accessible Will County campaign kicks off
Residents speak out about lack of transportation, housing and accessible buildings By Kris Stadalsky For the Bugle/Sentinel
bY NIcK rEIhEr | MANAGING EDITOR Just a few hours after spring officially arrived March 20, Illinois transportation officials announced construction work on both directions of the Interstate 55 Des Plaines River Bridge will resume March 31, weather permitting. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in areas and rerouted over the Des Plaines River, officials said. Heavy traffic is expected in this area with long delays. Last year, long back-ups were common during morning and afternoon rush hours.
>> see ‘coNsTrUcTIoN’ page 19
Will County residents packed the Caterpillar auditorium in the Joliet Historical Museum March 23 to participate in the kick-off of the Tom giarranTe Accessible Will County mayor of Joliet campaign, organized by the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living. The purpose of the campaign is to create new inclusive housing for people with and without disabilities, expand public transportation options and increase the accessibility of public and private buildings. Participants included Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante, Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland, Sen. Pat McGuire, Nick Palmer Chief of Staff for County Executive Larry Walsh and later Walsh himself, as well as county board members, Will-Grundy CIL board members and other politicians and community leaders. But it was the residents who community leaders wanted to hear from about their experiences and needs in those areas. “(Accessible Will County campaign) isn’t just for people with disabilities, it’s for the entire area of Will County,” said Will-Grundy CIL executive director Pam Heavens. “We can’t do this alone. We are asking for help from (the community) to be a part of something very exciting.” Three people told their stories of how inaccessibility to transportation, public and >> see accessible | page 2