Kane County Chronicle
December 9, 2004
By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Kane County Chronicle
SUGAR GROVE -- Paul Evans of Big Rock does not want to see fertile farmland being paved over for a road.
Evans on Wednesday spoke out against the Illinois Department of Transportation's plans to build a 35-mile beltway
between Interstates 80 and 88. The proposed road would be built west of Route 47, near his parents' farm in Big
Rock.
"We have all these roads in existence now. It would be far less of an impact to widen key routes to solve
the so-called traffic problems. They should look at that first," Evans said during IDOT's open house on the
proposed Prairie Parkway project.
Another open house will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today at White Oaks Elementary School, 2001 Dupont Ave., Morris.
IDOT has recorded a corridor from I-88 in Kane County to Interstate 80 in Grundy County in 191 property deeds.
However, IDOT officials stressed that the corridor is not set in stone.
"The corridor was protected in July 2002 as a planning tool to preserve one possible path," IDOT project
engineer Rick Powell said. "We do have the flexibility to change or remove the corridor if we find there is
another solution. We still are trying to define what the Prairie Parkway is."
As part of the Prairie Parkway study, IDOT officials are looking at a variety of ideas, from widening roads such
as Route 47 to light rail service. IDOT has compiled approximately 150 transportation improvement suggestions gathered
from public workshops in June, as well as from stakeholders and local officials.
IDOT is trying to address the growing traffic needs in the area. The three counties in the study area (Kane, Kendall
and Will), are ranked on the list of the 100 fastest growing counties in the United States from 2000 to 2003.
But IDOT does not have the money to fund any traffic improvements.
"There is no money for anything beyond the study right now," Powell said.
The $18 million study began two years ago, and Powell said there will be another four years of study before any
decisions are made.
Brian Schiber of Sugar Grove said he is in favor of building a beltway west of Route 47.
"I like the idea of putting it further west. I am not sure how much benefit would come from widening Route
47. We need new roads to handle the traffic," Schiber said.
Residents still can mail their comments about the project to IDOT. Deadline is Jan. 21.
They can be sent to John Kos, district engineer, Illinois Department of Transportation, 700 E. Norris Drive, Ottawa,
IL 61350.
Comments can also be faxed to IDOT at (815) 434-8553. The study's Web site, www.prairie-parkway.com, also accepts
comments.
Send in comments
* Residents still can mail their comments about the project to IDOT. Deadline is Jan. 21. They can be sent to John
Kos, district engineer, Illinois Department of Transportation, 700 E. Norris Drive, Ottawa, IL 61350.
Comments can also be faxed to IDOT at (815) 434-8553. The study's Web site, www.prairie-parkway.com, also accepts
comments.