Drivers disobeying traffic signs in N. Aurora

Some motorists in North Aurora are still creating a safety hazard in order to take a few minutes off their trip, officials said at a village board meeting Monday.

The construction on Oak Street between Acorn Drive and Route 31 has reduced the busy street to a one-way for the summer and most cars follow that simple rule. However, officials and construction workers have reported multiple incidents of cars going the wrong way.

"I think it's terrible that these people are putting their friends and neighbors at risk for something like that," Trustee Linda Mitchell said.

Trustee Max Herwig said he and his wife have seen one car in particular going the wrong way several times per week; and he said, with the driver's swerving through the barricades into the closed lane, it's only a matter of time before that driver causes an accident.

"It's interesting what people are trying to get away with for such a short distance. They're not realizing what they may be causing," Herwig said.

Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock said construction crews have reported another car repeatedly breaking the law to go the wrong way. He said one incident resulted in the driver yelling obscenities at workers trying to stop the car.

Police Chief Tom Fetzer said his department has been patrolling the street and will catch people going the wrong way. He added that there has been a significant drop in wrong-way complaints since 70 tickets were issued in 10 days when construction began in April.

Glock said the $3 million project, which will rebuild the road, add a continuous left-turn lane and reduce a hill is about 25 percent complete.

Glock said the project has fallen about a week behind schedule because of the rain and problems with a telecommunications company moving wire. However, he still hopes to have the project substantially completed by Oct. 3.

"We can hold to that date pretty well," Glock said.