IL 29 expansion project moves forward
Updated: June 8, 2012
For the past 20 years, Project 29 has been working to make this six mile stretch a little safer.
"We've had I believe 15 fatalities in the last 17 years on this highway. It's just very dangerous."
A lot of that danger looms around this area, where it drops from 4-lanes to 2.
"You've got a bottle neck."
A bottle neck Mike Bell and others have been fighting to get rid of. Project-29 has petitioned the state for years, now it's finally going to disappear. Governor Quinn gave the okay to widen the road.
"It's not been something that one or two people have done. There have been numerous people involved in this since its inception."
Lloyd Blank is one of those people. For him, the project hits close to home. His cousin was killed on this road in 1992.
"We need to get this traffic routed around the town and make it safer for everyone."
Safety isn't the only benefit coming from the expansion. The group also expects to see a boom in business.
"IDOT informed us when we first started that projects like this take 17 to 20 years and it was time to put our heads down and go for it. And now it's finally happening. Yes it's wonderful."
The project took so long to get off the ground because the state had to find a way to pay for it. Construction could last 2-1/2 years.
"We've had I believe 15 fatalities in the last 17 years on this highway. It's just very dangerous."
A lot of that danger looms around this area, where it drops from 4-lanes to 2.
"You've got a bottle neck."
A bottle neck Mike Bell and others have been fighting to get rid of. Project-29 has petitioned the state for years, now it's finally going to disappear. Governor Quinn gave the okay to widen the road.
"It's not been something that one or two people have done. There have been numerous people involved in this since its inception."
Lloyd Blank is one of those people. For him, the project hits close to home. His cousin was killed on this road in 1992.
"We need to get this traffic routed around the town and make it safer for everyone."
Safety isn't the only benefit coming from the expansion. The group also expects to see a boom in business.
"IDOT informed us when we first started that projects like this take 17 to 20 years and it was time to put our heads down and go for it. And now it's finally happening. Yes it's wonderful."
The project took so long to get off the ground because the state had to find a way to pay for it. Construction could last 2-1/2 years.
