By CHRISTINA CHAPMAN
Staff Writer
YORKVILLE -- The path of the Prairie
Parkway has been chosen, but the public still has the opportunity to
state its thoughts on the road closures, air-quality impact and its
location.
The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold public hearings
from 5:30 to 8 p.m. July 11 at Yorkville High School, 797 Game Farm
Road; and at the same time July 12 at Kaneland John Shields Elementary
School, 85 S. Main St. in Sugar Grove.
In June, IDOT decided on the "B5 alternative," which is to build a $1
billion, 37-mile highway beginning at Interstate 88 in Kane County and
running through Kane and Kendall counties, but then the route shifts
east to connect to Interstate 80 in Minooka. Also part of the project
is the widening of Illinois 47 from I-80 to Caton Farm Road.
At the hearings, IDOT will demonstrate that the highway will meet the
new standards of air quality required by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, said Rick Powell, studies and plans engineer for
IDOT.
In addition the revisions of the protected corridor and the road
closures will be presented. In 2002, the original protected corridor
was established so IDOT could prepare maps outlining estimated
right-of-ways for the highway and outline property lines. With the
final route chosen, this protected corridor has to be amended and, once
approved, property owners will be notified and then have to inform IDOT
before developing or selling the land, allowing IDOT the option to
purchase it first.
The proposed road closures are Church Road, Chicago Road, Helmar Road
West, Immanuel Road, Helmar Road South, Schaefer Road, Henning Road,
Sears Road, Jones Road, Wheeler Road and Lasher Road.
Budd Road, which is off of Illinois 71 southwest of Yorkville, will
become longer and cross the future highway, Powell said. Faxon Road
will be relocated.
"(Faxon) is short. It will not have much impact," Powell said.
Full-funding for the project has not yet been established.
The public will be able to make written and oral comments at the
hearings. To submit comments before or after the hearing write George
Ryan, Deputy Director of Highways, Regional Engineer, Illinois
Department of Transportation District 3, 700 E. Norris Drive, Ottawa,
IL 61350.
For more information, call Rick Powell at (815) 434-8423