Carpentersville must act to make urgent road improvements
With the weather finally warming up, expect to see many more construction zones in the area as local crews and state road crews kick off the construction season. A major project motorists can expect to see this summer is the reconstruction of Route 25 from Interstate in Elgin to just south of Route 72 in East Dundee.
The road improvement is one of dozens of road reconstruction or resurfacing projects identified by the Illinois department of Transportation as "shovel ready" and eligible for funding from the federal stimulus package. About $2 million will be spent on resurfacing the road, which local officials often describe as one of the worst in the area. But the entire stretch of road from Elgin through East Dundee and into Carpentersville is an eyesore and hazard for motorists. The pot holes are like craters and the shoulders have crumbled away into pieces that look like an Oreo in a Dairy Queen Blizzard.
Carpentersville won't see any improvements from the stimulus money to repair their section of Route 25. It's a shame, because that road is a major thoroughfare and retail corridor for the village. There's the Meadowdale Shopping Center there and several new or revitalized strip malls now line the corridor.
Perhaps if shoppers weren't afraid to drive - let alone walk along the dilapidated sidewalks - the area might see some improvement in terms of traffic and sales. The new Tractor Supply Co., store will be moving into the former Big Lots store in Meadowdale and its success will largely depend on the small farm and stable owners coming from places like nearby Barrington Hills. But if customers risk losing a tire to a crater, it's highly unlikely they will make the trek to Carpentersville.
Like candidates in the recent election said, the condition of Route 25 is a major deterrent. You can't blame shoppers for choosing to go out to Randall Road or nearby Spring Hill Mall for all of their retail needs. Route 25 and the surrounding area are hard to look at.
Sure, the village has been talking about creating a tax increment financing district - TIF - or a business district to help revitalize the area. But some board members were averse to the idea because they did not think business owners would like the idea of adding another level of retail sales tax, as provided in a business district, or that the business owners would oppose the TIF.
If the additional revenue created by the special tax designations will improve the area, the business owners would be foolish to say no. In thened, businesses will benefit from new facades, smooth streets and wider sidewalks.
Perhaps the improvement to Route 25 in Elgin and East Dundee will make the ride from I-90 to Carpentersville a little more palatable, but Carpentersville must use urgency in finding a way to fix their section of road to save itself. The new board must make improving the road a priority, something that was not done during the last administration. There are new members and a new leader who can affect changes in the village. Now, do it.