The public is invited to a workshop on the beautification of the Route 53 corridor (a.k.a. historic Route 66) from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in the board room at Romeoville Village Hall, 1050 W. Romeo Road.

At the workshop, residents and businesspeople will have opportunities to provide input on the design of landscape islands the village has proposed for Route 53 from McKool Avenue south to Renwick Road, as well as signage and landscaping along the corridor.

The village will apply for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant by the end of this month to help fund the improvements, which are estimated to cost $1.4 million.

According to Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell, if the grant request is successful, the estimated federal share of the cost would be $1.1 million, leaving $300,000 as the local share.

“TIF funds will be used for the local match on any improvements within the TIF District, which is from 135^th Street north to Joliet Road,” Caldwell added.

The village has already made several improvements along the Route 53 corridor, such as landscaping and landscaping islands.

The project could also highlight Route 53’s connection to “The Mother Road,” historic Route 66.

“We are researching the possibility of using the Route 66 logo on various signage along Route 53 (the Route 66 corridor),” said Caldwell.