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LOCAL NEWS

By: Encounter Staff

Walmart's Next-Generation Fulfillment Center

Photo: www.businesswire.com On September 28, leaders from Walmart, government officials and community members joined Walmart associates in Joliet to celebrate the grand opening of Walmart’s 11.1M square-foot Next Generation fulfillment center.

According to www.businesswire. com, this new center will be the first out of four next-generation fulfillment centers that were announced this year to feature “a new patent-pending process powered by the combination of people, robotics and machine learning.” Because of the new technologies available in this new Walmart fulfillment center, the speed of the process will be increased.

According to www.businesswire. com, Walmart would be able to provide 75 percent of the U.S population with next or two-day shipping.

The New Walmart fulfillment center seems to ensure a promising experience for customers who can expect fast delivery time thanks to this new high-technology facility.

The AABA Separates from the Joliet Chamber

The Joliet African American Business Association (AABA) will become a separate organization on December 1, 2022.

According to chamber representatives, after several months of planning between the chamber staff and the AABA representatives, it is "with pride" that they announced this opportunity to the community. professional development, and networking/special events.

The development of AABA into its own organization represents adequate and equitable support for all Black-owned businesses in Joliet and it means taking the next step “in realizing the potential of African American Businesses,” said Christopher Parker.

AABA will continue to provide its actual resources such as business and economic development, job readiness, More details will be shared in the upcoming months regarding the transition of the chamber.

Photo: AABA Facebook

What's With All the Construction on I-55?

On September 9, J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, announced a $93 million investment in I-55 improvements and a new interchange with I-59.

This project aims to enhance safety, create jobs and promote economic opportunity in Will County.

The $93 million investment is all thanks to the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan that was passed in 2019. Rebuild Illinois is not only considered the largest capital program in state history but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation.

Pritzker shared, “...we are making several capacity, access, and safety enhancements – all while building a new diverging diamond interchange with Illinois 59. This major project to rebuild I-55 and Illinois 59 is an investment in our communities, in our families, in our workers, and in our future – one that is prosperous for all Illinoisans.”

The centerpiece of the project involves IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) building a new bridge to convert the I-55 interchange with Illinois 59 into a full-access, divergingdiamond design to improve safety and traffic flow, with the East Frontage Road relocated and reconstructed.

According to an article by Effingham Radio, “Auxiliary lanes will be added to I-55 between the Illinois 59 and U.S. 52 interchanges to improve safety by better accommodating vehicles entering and leaving the interstate. The Illinois 59 intersection with Seil Road will be improved and modernized. Pedestrian access will be built across I-55, with the addition of sidewalks and a multi-use trail. New noise and retaining walls also will be built along I-55.”

Advance work started in 2021. The entire project is expected to take two full construction seasons to finish, with an anticipated completion date in late 2024 or early 2025.

The traffic environment may seem to be a mess now, but in the end, this project will serve the citizens of Will County as well as many others by making traveling easier, safer, and will promote economic opportunity.