Magazine recognizes I-355 extension as No. 1 road project September 28, 2006 By Susan DeMar Lafferty The Star Roads and Bridges magazine has cited the Interstate 355 extension as the No. 1 road project of the year for 2006. The publication's October issue will feature the project with the top 10 projects that the magazine has recognized for meeting challenging road specifications, having a positive impact on motorists and improving road safety without compromising the environment.            The magazine received more than 30 North American road project nominations, all of which had to be in the design or construction phase within the last 18 months.             The I-355 project is a 12.5 mile, three-lane extension, connecting Interstate 55 in Bolingbrook to Interstate 80 in New Lenox. The project will reduce travel times by 20 percent, as it provides a direct route from Will County to the Chicago area.             It includes a 1.3 mile bridge over the Des Plaines River Valley, from Bluff Road to New Avenue in Lemont. It spans the I7M Canal, the Sanitary and Ship Canal,  the Des Plaines River, several rail lines and the forest preserve.               It will have six interchanges along the route and noise abatement walls at six locations.               In a prepared statement, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s acting executive director Brian McPartlin said he is “very excited” about the recognition.               “As those in the area know, this project was in the planning stages for more than a decade to relieve traffic congestion in fast-growing Will County and was finally made possible by Gov. Blagovich’s leadership of the toll way’s $5.3 billion Congestion Relief Program,” he said.               He said the program also includes the conversion to Open Road Tolling, he said.               In the toll way’s discussions with the magazine staff, McPartlin said, “They appreciated the many challenges of building a new road that connects with two interstates as well as an existing tollway in a highly developed metropolitan area, as well as the unique design and engineering challenges of building the Des Plaines River Valley Bridge.”               “That bridge is a marvel”, said New Lenox Mayor Mike Smith, who pushed for this tollway extension to his community. “It is so unique.”               “I would give them any award. It’s worth it. Everyone is so excited about getting on this road.” The 100-year old Arlington-Heights based magazine serves more than 60,000 contractors, government officials and engineers in the road and bridge construction market.     116 N. Chicago St., Ste. 101, Joliet, IL 60432, 815.723.1800, info@willcountyced.org