2004 Year in Review

IDOT explains U.S. 30 Corridor

Wells Fargo Bank employees examine the northern routes.

Orville Goodenough discusses the southern routes

Local residents examine the southern routes while IDOT official stand by for questions.

U.S. Route 30 has been a large focus for IDOT (Illinois Dept. of Transportation) this year. The Department met with the Morrison community members on Tuesday, April 27, to discuss the proposed U.S. Route 30 Corridor Study. To study the project, the U.S. government has apportioned $1.5 million. About 250 local people studied the wall-sized maps trying to figure out how their property or their neighbors would be affected.

HDR Engineering, Inc. of Chicago was asked to engineer two routes on the north side of Morrison and two routes to the south. The purpose of Tuesday’s open meeting was to give the community a chance to evaluate the 4 routes and give their input to IDOT. Engineers from both IDOT and HDR were available to answer questions and take comments to evaluate the feasibility of the project.

Minimizing the impact to all the variables was the goal for the engineers. “We have to balance and find the least intrusive alternative,” Project Squad Leader Jon McCormick of IDOT explained. Some of those variables are use of farmland; the environment, including wetlands; access to farms; safety; the economics of the community; homeowners; and accessibility to farmland.

The design includes a 600’ corridor although the total road used would be about 120’ with two 24’ roads. Homes owned by Arlyn Workman, Dwayne Ottens, Mark Stralow, the historical Ed Abbott Farm, and many more were shown in the corridor. “They built the road through my house,” stated Ottens. “Our family has owned that house for over 100 years, we won’t sell.” But the engineers explained the road could easily be designed to go around the homes in many instances.

The southern most route travels along Bunker Hill Road south of Morrison and would have less impact on farmland but would involve the removal of long standing homesteads and houses.

Farmland is an issue for farmer Eric Benson. “I oppose it,” announced Benson. His family and neighbors own property along the Bunker Hill Road. “I realize we need industry in the area but the #1 business in Illinois is agriculture and the road will take out prime farmland in the area. Farmland is our biggest Natural Resource. Soon we’ll have to import our food too.” Farmland is the primary income of many farmers in the area and this project will reduce their farmland and reduce their income.

Local businesses worry about their decreased exposure along U.S. 30 through Morrison. Some believe it will make the town deserted. But the feeling of most at the meeting according to the engineers was positive especially if the corridor closest to Morrison on the south side were chosen. Annexing property surrounding the road would give the City of Morrison tax dollars from any business that chose to build along the four-lane road.

Barb Bees of the U.S. 30 Coalition and Morrison City Council feels the project will be a step forward for the community. “The City of Morrison is on record as supporting this project. If the City is smart they will annex the area into the City and add infrastructure for businesses wanting to build along the four-lane.” She also added, “Businesses are looking for towns along a transportation route, along with a superior work force, and a community with good quality of life. We could offer all those things.”

At this time, according to the IDOT traffic count, there are 10,000 vehicles traveling U.S. 30 through Morrison and 1350 are truck traffic. Safety is a concern for local residents. There have been many fatalities along the busy two-lane road.

Most people at the meeting were just looking for information or to offer opinions on alternatives. Widening the present U.S. 30 to four-lanes was mentioned. One of the IDOT engineers counted 35 residents and businesses that would be impacted by the project from Interstate 88 to Morrison. Frontage roads would have to be added to access their buildings.

Each alternative has positive and negative aspects. It is up to IDOT to listen to concerns and evaluate which idea has the least impact on all the variables. The next step for IDOT is to make those comparisons, finalize a U.S. 30 Corridor. At that point IDOT will come back for a second open meeting with their corridor report. When the decision is finalized and funding is available the project proceeds to Phase 1 studies: Preliminary Design/Environmental Evaluation. Their timeline according to McCormick could be as few as six years if the money is available and everything moves along to as many as ten year in the future. Many present felt it would not take place in their lifetime.

To view Average Daily Traffic Counts go to IDOT Web site and click on “Check latest traffic counts”. If you would like to comment on the project download the form from our new download page.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
April 30, 2004