2003 Year in Review

US 30 Proposed Revision Explained

Representatives from IDOT explain US 30 drawings

The planned expansion of US 30 was on display and explained to residents Wednesday from 1-6 at the Morrison High School Cafeteria. Residents along the expansion studied how it would affect their properties. Several residents who own property on the north-side of US 30 came away very happy with the changes. Hester Munther said the changes won’t affect her much. Paul Anderson was happy to see the hillside gone and a retaining wall next to the sidewalk on his west-end home. Others owners were wishing the State would have taken more of their hillside. Geoff Smith, a Studies and Plans Project Manager with IDOT, explained that because the west-end homes on the hillside are a potential Historic District and Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will not let them touch that side of the road, so they had to move the road to the south.

The proposed improvements consist of the pavement removal, widening by adding a bi-directional turn-lane, replacement of pavement, and curb & gutter from the Rt. 78 (N) on the west-end of Morrison to 400 feet past Sawyer Road on the east-end of Morrison. Except for the Rock Creek Bridge and from Orange to Cherry Streets the road will be 12 feet going each direction with a 12 foot turn lane. All corners through town will be improved for better access of larger vehicles.

Some local business owners were concerned about traffic in and out of their businesses but representatives explained that they could submit their concerns in writing and they would send a representative out to help traffic flow. Residents were encouraged to give written statements to the District Engineer, Gregory Mounts. All maps, drawings and other information are available at the IDOT office in Dixon.

The proposed changes could begin as early as the summer of 2005.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
August 13, 2003