Construction Projects Enhance Orland Park Retail Hub

Shoppers visiting the Orland Park Costco should be prepared for ongoing construction. The store is expanding its gas station and adding a roundabout at the exit. These developments are part of a larger plan that includes work on the Amazon retail center at the intersection of 159th Street and LaGrange Road, as well as the Ravinia Avenue extension project.

According to Orland Park’s engineering director, Khurshid Hoda, synchronizing these projects creates some inconvenience but aims to minimize disruption in the long run. He explained that doing the projects simultaneously is preferable to staggering them, as it shortens the overall timeline of construction-related challenges.

Last year, the Village Board gave the green light to Costco’s plans due to increased membership and sales at the store located at 9915 W. 159th St., which began operations in 2006. Hoda mentioned that the expansion involves relocating the gas station to a position west of Ravinia Avenue and adding 20 more pumps. Although the initial plan called for 40 pumps, the final design will feature 32, with a possibility of future expansion.

The roundabout and most of the Ravinia Avenue extension to 161st Street are expected to be completed by the end of this year. However, the new gas station is anticipated to open sometime next year. Once operational, the current gas station will be demolished to create additional parking spaces.

“I was informed by Costco that our store ranks second in the state in terms of sales volume and could become the leader following the gas station’s expansion,” Hoda added.

Initially, Costco planned to use stop signs for traffic control, but the village insisted on a more comprehensive solution. The result is a roundabout designed to accommodate 18-wheelers and emergency vehicles, offering better traffic flow.

The revamped layout also includes a new lane on the north side of the store to guide traffic into the parking lot. Exiting traffic will use the roundabout. The nearly 230,000-square-foot Amazon retail center will become accessible via the roundabout once the Ravinia Avenue extension is complete. This extension is expected to divert about 25% of the traffic from the busy 159th Street and LaGrange Road intersection, as estimated by the village.

At a recent Plan Commission meeting, Chicago attorney Katie Jahnke Dale, representing Amazon, stated that the retail space at the site of the former Petey’s II restaurant will be among the first of its kind. The Amazon facility aims to enhance the shopping experience by incorporating technology, allowing customers to locate items not displayed in-store via their phones or in-store kiosks. Shoppers can also request items to be delivered to their vehicles at designated spots.

For smooth operation, retail customers will enter from 159th Street, LaGrange Road, or 161st Street, while delivery drivers will access the area from 161st Street. Amazon plans to allocate six acres for open space and landscaping, along with building a stormwater detention area on the premises. The store is projected to open late next year, according to Hoda.