Grant Funds Sought for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements
North Chicago’s Economic and Community Development Department is preparing to apply to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation for an Installation Readiness Grant. The estimated grant total is $1,718,808 Federal, and $171,808 Local Match.
The proposed project responds directly to NSGL’s operational requirements and the need to improve transportation infrastructure serving both the installation and the surrounding community. As military operations, security requirements, and infrastructure systems have evolved over time, portions of the existing transportation network no longer align with current operational needs
Foss Park Avenue, a city owned public roadway, currently traverses Naval Station Great Lakes property near Gate #5 and has been identified as a transportation, operational, and security concern due to its proximity to installation facilities, its role in providing access to the installation, and its contribution to shared infrastructure dependencies between the City and the Navy.
For many years, the City and NSGL have worked collaboratively to address transportation, utility, and land use compatibility challenges affecting both parties. One of the highest -priority initiatives identified through this partnership is the realignment of Foss Park Avenue and evaluation of access conditions at Gates 1, 4, 5, and 8. The project is intended to improve mobility, emergency response capabilities, infrastructure reliability, and long -term compatibility between military operations and community infrastructure.
The proposed effort will complete the technical studies, engineering analyses, and design activities necessary to advance the Foss Park Avenue Realignment Project and associated Base Access Analysis from concept development to construction readiness. Work will include evaluation of existing and future gate access conditions, identification of a preferred access strategy, and preparation of engineering plans, cost estimates, right -of -way documentation, and contract documents needed to support future implementation.
The study area encompasses the Foss Park Avenue corridor, NSGL access gates, adjacent transportation corridors, utility infrastructure, and surrounding properties that influence access and mobility. Key issues to be addressed include access reliability during gate closures, emergency response routing, utility interdependencies, transportation system performance, and infrastructure resiliency. The project will also support ongoing efforts to address concerns associated with a public roadway traversing Navy property and strengthen the long -term relationship between installation operations and surrounding community infrastructure.
As the host community for Naval Station Great Lakes, the City of North Chicago is an eligible applicant under this program because the proposed project directly supports a Department of Defense installation and addresses issues affecting both the installation and the surrounding community. By advancing the project to construction -ready status, the City and NSGL will be positioned to pursue future implementation funding for improvements that enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and support the long -term mission of Naval Station Great Lakes.