Aurora Beacon-News
September 1, 2004
Issues review: Yorkville Chamber event brings leaders together
By Dan Waitt
STAFF WRITER
YORKVILLE — Of all of the issues facing legislators and local leaders in this rapidly growing area, the one subject
on which there is near unanimity is Route 47.
Almost everyone agrees it needs to be widened through Yorkville, and soon.
"I haven't had anybody come to me and say they don't want it," state Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner, R-Sugar
Grove, said Tuesday at the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Legislative Breakfast.
"The need is urgent, immediate; it was like due yesterday," state Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, said.
Business owners and professionals had a chance to hear from their state representatives on a wide range of topics,
ranging from transportation to school funding to rising health insurance costs.
About 90 people attended the breakfast at Ralph's Place at Blackberry Oaks Golf Course.
While the expansion of Route 47 has been in the works for years, city leaders recently have stepped up efforts
to expedite the project.
Ted Fultz, district location and environmental studies engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation in
Ottawa, said Phase I engineering for the project is mostly complete, and some preliminary design work in the second
phase has begun.
But there is no funding available to start the project.
Construction cost estimates for expanding the road to four lanes with a center turn lane through a 3.4-mile stretch
from Countryside Parkway to Route 71 are in the $25 million range.
Asked by an audience member whether the proposed Prairie Parkway west of Yorkville is drawing attention away from
Route 47, Lauzen said that, although the outer-belt freeway eventually will be needed, he believes it is a distraction.
"The common ground is that we need both," Lauzen said. "The common sense is that we need Route 47
now."
Lauzen said he hopes the Republican votes that finally led to passage of the state budget in late July will correspond
to political leverage when the state considers a $10 billion capital budget during the fall veto session in November.
"We're looking forward to getting our fair share," he said.
Yorkville Alderman Rose Spears encouraged people to sign a petition she is circulating in the community in favor
of the Route 47 widening. Spears has collected some 700 names so far and has set a goal of 5,000.
Lindner said grassroots efforts like Spears' are on the right track. "You've got to keep pounding and pounding
and meeting and meeting," Lindner said.