Kane committee favors full I-88/Rt. 47 interchange

The Kane County Board's transportation committee lent its voice Tuesday to those asking for a full interchange to be built at Interstate 88 and Route 47.

It recommended the full board adopt a resolution saying so and send copies of it to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A feasibility study commissioned by Sugar Grove estimates it could cost $20 million to build the interchange.

Sugar Grove expects that full access to the tollway at Route 47 would spur industrial and commercial development near the interchange.

Making the full interchange a high priority on the county's transportation wish list puts it on the toll authority's and state's “radar screen,” committee chairwoman Cathy Hurlbut said.

She cautioned, however, that no entity has budgeted any money for the project.

“I think this thing has been a long time coming,” said committee member T.R. Smith of Burlington. “ ... It makes perfect sense. It should have been done when I-88 was built.” He speculated that a political disagreement way back between a governor and the state representative from the area killed it.

“One of the assets to this for Kane County is it would take a lot of vehicles on to the tollway a lot quicker, rather than using a lot of other county roads to get there,” said county board member Melisa Taylor of Sugar Grove. “I am absolutely thrilled this is coming forward.”