Most against Longmeadow plan

I am a citizen of Kane County in Dundee Township and I oppose this destructive Longmeadow Parkway toll bridge. County board Chairman Chris Lauzen better figure out most of his constituents don't want this.

County officials will put the $100 million burden for this project on taxpayers when tolls don't pay the construction cost. The tollway cuts a wide path of environmental destruction in Dundee Township, bisecting the 740 acres of Brunner Forest Preserve and destroying one of the most scenic views along the Fox River that is habitat for egrets, herons, and bald eagles.

The county board is under the mistaken impression that residents want this tollway. Reasons for opposing the project include:

• Reasonable alternatives to destroying public lands are available such as simply building a two-lane, local bridge and increasing lanes on Route 31.

• Thousands of residents will feel the impact from losing a quality of life that now includes scenic views of the river, an unobstructed forest preserve along the river, (the largest unspoiled open space remaining in Northern Kane County) and stable property values.

The task force that picked the Longmeadow corridor had two McHenry County Board members and two McHenry County senior staff members as members - they were likely to choose a corridor that would not impact their residents and would benefit them.

The tollway will cause community disruption, damage a public forest preserve that cost taxpayers $40 million, cause unacceptable air, water and noise pollution, and worsen traffic conditions.

According to Friends of the Fox River, the project will cause a severe disruption of habitat. Stormwater from the bridge will have an impact on aquatic species in the river. The impact on plants, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, mussels and water quality will be devastating to this beautiful and environmentally important area.

Danya Eliah

Algonquin