Commitment to safe travel in township

As a resident of Milton Township who grew up in this area, and in my capacity as the Milton Township Highway Commissioner, I am personally saddened by the recent fatality on Pleasant Hill Road.

The death has prompted calls by residents of the area for construction of a bicycle path to meet the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians traveling on Pleasant Hill.

I have visited the accident site on several occasions, and have begun an investigation into what this department can do to address the concerns voiced by residents and the family since the accident.

Pleasant Hill from Geneva Road to Jewell Road is heavily traveled by automobile traffic. It is also a busy stretch of roadway for bicyclists and pedestrians who travel Pleasant Hill to access the Illinois Prairie Path.

As has been recognized, Pleasant Hill is a standard roadway with limited shoulders, bordered by open ditches on both sides of the roadway. Unfortunately, the lack of shoulder area also impedes addition of a bike path or trail along this roadway.

The Milton Township Highway Department is responsible for approximately 90 miles of roadway. Many of our streets are similar to Pleasant Hill, in that they lack sidewalks, curb and gutter.

In response to residents who wish we could add a bicycle path or sidewalk along Pleasant Hill Road, the highway department has a very tight budget as a result of the aftermath of the tornado which severely impacted portions of the township last year, and a winter that would not end and rising asphalt prices.

However, I want the residents of the township, and the Pleasant Hill Road area in particular, to know that the highway department is committed to providing safe streets for the intended users of the roads, which are automobiles. We also seek to provide safe transportation for bicyclists and pedestrians who share those roadways.

I am planning to commit resources to this effort in hopes that a plan to address the use of the roadway by automobiles, bicyclists and pedestrians will be forthcoming in the near future.

Gary Muehlfelt

Milton Township Highway Commissioner