West Dundee candidates at odds over barriers

The 6-inch tall barriers proposed along routes 31 and 72 in West Dundee are dividing candidates for the village president's seat.

The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to spend $1.6 million to widen and improve traffic flow through the busy intersection with work that will include dual left turn lanes on northbound and southbound Route 31 and barriers north of Route 72 to Geneva Street.

The proposal also includes a right-turn lane on eastbound Route 72 and a six-inch barrier median next to the left turn lanes from eastbound Route 72 and on the eastern section from the intersection to east of Seventh Street.

Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2010.

Village President Larry Keller says IDOT mandates the barriers because of the dual left turn lanes.

"If you agree to have double turn lanes, you have to have un-mountable barriers," said Keller, who has been village president for more than 11 years. "What the village is looking for is a safer intersection and to increase the speed through there. From a safety standpoint, you need the barriers."

His opponent, write-in candidate Michael Elmore, says safety is not an issue. The issue, he believes, is how the barriers will limit access to the businesses located at the intersection.

"There's no study that shows there's a safety reason and the barriers need to be done," Elmore said. "They are unnecessary. But once the barriers are erected, there's no way to get into any of the stores along there."

West Dundee Police Chief David Sawyer said there has been at least one fatal crash - about eight years ago - and the intersection accounts for a majority of collisions in the village.