Bypass study is expensive, pointless

The free-spending Illinois Department of Transportation is at it again wasting taxpayer money. IDOT has a highly paid consultant who wants to study a Route 120 bypass South of Grayslake that would cost more than $2 billion and we all know will never be funded or built.

IDOT has been stalling on upgrading existing Route 120 (Belvidere Road) from Wildwood to Volo since the 1960s. In the meantime, thousands of Lake County residents are delayed every day just trying to get to work, shop or get the kids to school.

It is time for the governor and legislators to get real and tell IDOT to stop wasting taxpayer money studying this bypass boondoggle and tell IDOT to fix Route 120 at a fraction of the bypass cost.

IDOT should begin adding lanes, turning lanes, sidewalks and building an overpass at Routes 120/83 immediately. Studying the $2 billion-plus bypass will just further delay fixing Route 120 another 10, 20 or 60-years.

Bill Morris

Lake Forest