Council funds engineering for Kennedy Drive crossing and long-range Curtis Avenue rebuild

The Kankakee City Council on May 4 authorized engineering work aimed at improving pedestrian access and traffic safety on two corridors.

Kennedy Drive: Council approved engaging Pisha Engineering for phase-one design work on Kennedy Drive to evaluate a signalized crossing and pedestrian connections to the riverfront trail. Engineer Pasha said traffic data show numerous crashes on the hill approach, with 14 crashes and 13 injuries from 2019–2023 at the location. The engineering would develop signal options, turn lanes and pedestrian accommodations and position the project for grant funding.

Curtis Avenue: Council also approved Pisha Engineering for phase-one and -two engineering on Curtis Avenue (from Jeffrey Avenue to Court Street), a multi-year corridor reconstruction project that the city hopes to position for county MO funding in a future funding round. The work would include curb-to-curb reconstruction, sidewalks and other multimodal improvements; councilors said the project is several years from construction but needs shovel-ready engineering now.

Both resolutions passed with council directions to pursue grants and to coordinate future construction timing with the city’s larger road program.