Pulaski Road Corridor Study
Thank you for visiting the Pulaski Road Corridor Study webpage.
The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) is committed to ensuring that those who live and work in the County are part of our planning and design process.
Email ImprovePulaskiRoad@gmail.com to request to join the mailing list to stay up to date on the Pulaski Road Project.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE
DoTH hosted an in person Public Information Open House for the Pulaski Road Corridor Study at Bremen High School on July 15, 2025, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the open house.
The open house included a presentation on the study, public outreach, existing conditions, proposed improvements and next steps. Over 40 participants attended the Public Information Open House. Materials displayed at the open house are available for viewing via the links below.
Public Information Open House materials:
If you have any questions about the open house or the study, please contact the project team at ImprovePulaskiRoad@gmail.com.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Natalia Derevyanny, Natalia.Derevyanny@cookcountyil.gov and Meaghan Johnson, Meaghan.Johnson@cookcountyil.gov
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DoTH is proposing improvements to Pulaski Road between 159th Street and 127th Street. This 4.5-mile corridor is located within the Villages of Alsip, Crestwood, Robbins and Midlothian and the City of Markham.
The purpose of this project is to improve safety, operational efficiency, mobility and facility conditions within this corridor. Proposed improvements include reconstructing the roadway pavement; modifying the roadway dimensions; providing drainage improvements and adding dedicated spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists to use along the corridor. These improvements aim to address the safety, mobility and drainage issues the community is currently experiencing on Pulaski Road.
Pulaski Road currently functions as a typical suburban arterial roadway with speeds ranging from 30-40 miles per hour. Throughout most of the study area, the roadway generally includes four 12-foot lanes and a 16-foot-wide center median. In the downtown Midlothian area, the roadway transitions to narrow lanes with on-street parking and wider sidewalks to support local businesses and pedestrians.
The condition of the existing concrete pavement along Pulaski Road is inconsistent. Several areas are in poor condition. Sidewalks are intermittent and there are no bicycle facilities, creating mobility challenges for pedestrians, cyclists and individuals with disabilities.
Existing Roadway Configuration
The proposed improvements include:
- Full depth pavement reconstruction
- Two 11-foot travel lanes in each direction throughout the corridor
- One 12-foot flush center median/two-way left turn lane to provide separation between the opposing traffic lanes and safe storage for left-turning vehicles
- New exclusive turn lanes at the intersections of Pulaski Road at 147th Street, Midlothian Turnpike, 135th Street and 127th Street
- New continuous 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of Pulaski Road
- New 10-foot shared-use path on the west side of Pulaski Road
- New curb and gutter throughout the corridor with new storm sewers
- Traffic signal modernization at the intersections of Pulaski Road at 152nd Street 147th Street, 145th Street, Claire Boulevard, 139th Street, Midlothian Turnpike, 135th Street, 131st Street and 127th Street
- New pedestrian crosswalks, push buttons with countdown timers and ADA compliant ramps
- A new path connection to the Tinley Creek Trail in Midlothian Meadows at 155th Street
- Safety improvements at railroad-roadway at-grade crossings
- Rehabilitation of existing bridge and culvert structures
- Within this project, no improvements are planned for the Pulaski Road bridge over the Cal-Sag Channel. Cook County invested $2 million in 2023 to repair this structure which is now in good condition. The bridge currently provides sidewalks that can be used by pedestrians and cyclists
Proposed Roadway Configuration
- Improved roadway conditions
- Increased safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists
- Drainage improvements to prevent roadway flooding
- Intersection improvements to enhance traffic and safety operations
- Increased connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians
- Improved sidewalk conditions
- Maintain and modernize what already exists
- Promote equal access to opportunities
- Prioritize transit and other transportation alternatives
The preliminary engineering (Phase I) portion of this project is nearing completion. During this phase, the project team developed several design alternatives and conducted environmental and engineering studies to determine the preferred alternative. Both agency and community input have been considered throughout this phase.
Subsequent phases of the project will be implemented over a multi-year period. The detailed engineering design (Phase II) for this project, along with required property acquisition, are scheduled to begin in early 2027. The first segment of the project from 159th Street to north of the Metra railroad crossing is also scheduled to begin in early 2027.
Construction (Phase III) is scheduled to start as early as 2029-2030, pending final design, land acquisition completion and funding availability.
The proposed improvements are expected to be delivered through multiple-phased contracts to better manage construction logistics and funding availability. Contract 1 is expected to commence first, but the order of subsequent contracts is currently unknown.
- Contract 1: 159th Street to Metra crossing
- Contract 2: Metra crossing to Tri-State Tollway
- Contract 3: Tri-State Tollway to Cal-Sag Channel
Contract 4: Cal-Sag Channel to 127th Street
To minimize impacts on local travel, DoTH plans to maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction along Pulaski Road throughout construction. Access to all properties along the corridor will be maintained during construction.