Even though autumn has officially arrived, the Fox Valley is experiencing what is known by local residents as the final push to the ripping up of the roads season. Getting in, out, or through the Fox Valley can be next to impossible depending on where you are headed.
The expansion at Route 20 and McLean Boulevard feels like it is never going to be completed. Motorists driving on McLean wait endlessly to make their way through that intersection with heart palpitations each time they are able to remove their foot from the brake pedal to hit the gas. This project most certainly will not be completed by the time the first snow arrives. Travelers will be waiting at least another year for smooth sailing north or south down McLean.
If you are unfortunate enough to have to travel east on Jane Adams Tollway you know that this is not a pleasant experience. Bumper to bumper traffic starts almost as soon as you pass through the tool booth at Route 31 depending on the day and time. Traffic patterns change daily, with nightly lane closures now making travel impossible later in the day.
“They always seem to work on all the roads at the same time, said Algonquin resident Echo McShane, who travels southbound into Elgin for work each day. “It seems like Route 31, McLean Boulevard, and Randall Road always are under some type of major road repair or resurfacing project making it nearly impossible to get to Elgin for my job.”
Attempting to enter Route 53 headed north or southward from the Jane Adams is tough to do without making zealous maneuvers with your automobile or truck.
Joe Loverher from Bartlett actually found this year “to be quicker than usual. Once they completed the construction at Sterns and Route 25, I have had smooth sailing getting my daughter to her destination. It used to be jammed, but now the situation has eased up.”
Loverher says he does stay off the 390 extension, however, now that a toll booth is under construction. He said, “the $1.90 toll is not worth it for the 10 minutes I would use that roadway.”
McShane wants to know “why they can’t coordinate road repairs so at least one of the major roads is open. It is just common sense that the road repair construction companies need to talk to one other and organize their work to allow at least one roadway to stay open.”
With a short complete closure of Route 31 in Elgin taking place this week, should we be looking forward to the first frost and snow flurries or are we better off with warmer weather and all of the roads torn up?
Linda McDaniel-Hale is a Fox Valley resident who offers opinion on local topics.
