Wheeling needs bypass around tracks

Within the last two years the Village of Wheeling rejected the relocation of Frito-Lay to the industrial complex along Northgate Parkway because it would add too much traffic to Northgate, Lake-Cook and Dundee roads (I seem to remember that Frito-Lay was talking about 70 employees).

Recently, the Village approved two separate developments along Northgate Parkway and at the corner of Northgate and Dundee roads which will be made up of 310 townhomes and condos plus commercial buildings. And yesterday it was reported that the Village has bid on the Wickes property to build more housing and more commercial property.

How many cars do you think that will add to Northgate, Lake-Cook and Dundee roads? I live near Wheeling High School and work five miles away, but it takes me 45 minutes to get home each night because I cannot drive through Wheeling. Lake-Cook Road going west? Backed up before Milwaukee Avenue. Dundee Road going west? Backed up before Milwaukee Avenue. Northgate Parkway going south? Sometimes backed up all the way to Lake-Cook Road.

Why? Because of the Dundee Road trains. And yet the Village keeps adding more and more housing with more and more cars. It is time for the Village of Wheeling to come to grips with the realization that traffic is not going to get any better without a bypass around the Dundee/Northgate train tracks.

Unfortunately, if the Village keeps selling off land to developers, there won't be any land left for a bypass. And yes, a bypass would be costly and painful, but it is something that Wheeling residents need and deserve.

Vicki P. Gabrielsen

Wheeling