Find less costly ways to solve traffic woes

I recall reading a post indicating an estimated cost of $30 million, then $40 million and now $50 million for an Environmental Impact Study for the extension of Route 53 north through Lake County. This "estimate" was confirmed in a recent Daily Herald article. Does anyone else find this absurd?

It seems to me that spending $50 million is, shall we say, excessive. The proposed road is only 12 miles long. I should think we ought to be able to actually build the road for that kind of money. At least a significant portion of it anyway.

What could possibly cost $4 million per mile? Does the Toll Authority plan to have an army of engineers count earthworms and grasshoppers? Or, perhaps the geese might raise opposition if they're reconstituted too close to the coyotes. And, of course, we cannot forget the owls.

Would the same expense be necessary to widen the existing arterials? By the way, those roads are going to require their capacity increased even if Route 53 is built in order to make it a viable transportation solution. Yep, figure another $2 billion for that little project on top of the nearly $3 billion to build Rt. 53.

I understand that we live in a democracy and not everyone will agree with my position opposing this roadway. Furthermore, I do understand and agree we should do everything we can to reduce the ecological impact of such projects. But, $40 million just seems ridiculous.

I'm not against progress. I am not against growth. I simply think there are less expensive (in terms of cost and environmental impact) ways to solve Lake County's transportation crisis.

Route 83, Route 12 and Route 45 just to name a few.

Jeff Issel

Mundelein

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