Removal of Longmeadow toll no blessing for all

Kane County is planning on taking down two overhead roll-related signs east of the brand new Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over the Fox River April 30. After over 30 years of the Fox Valley Community in and around Carpentersville and Algonquin fighting this bridge, it was constructed without the blessings of residents living near that area citing among other things increased traffic, danger to the health of nearby residents especially children living in proximity, and damage to the environment.

Kane County requested project funding in the amount of $1 million for the “Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Toll Elimination” project, which is coming from the Federal COVID cash, and the State of Illinois with the help of the governor and state representatives providing grants for $30 million, and the remaining $5 million being covered by Cook, McHenry and Kane counties. The Longmeadow Bridge is scheduled to be open later this year without a toll.

With the elimination of this toll, the impact to area residents depending on what side of the issue you are, will be a great new way to get across the Fox River without having to pay a newly established toll, or a sad day for the nearby community which will now hear day and night increased traffic using the bridge, breathing in polluted air from the vehicles using the bridge and lack of a clear sight to open spaces with the bridge already occupies.

The end of the fight to stop this bridge has been over for many years. The removal of the toll is of no further consequence to nearby residents that will now begin to suffer the effects this bridge will have on their daily lives.

Linda McDaniel-Hale

Sleepy Hollow