Elgin-O'Hare battle looms again

Even if suburban officials haven't forgotten the past, it seems they could be doomed to repeat it.

This week state planners are launching a multiyear "reaching out" campaign as they work toward building the long-sought western bypass of O'Hare International Airport and the eastern extension of the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway.

Yet, while they wade into the turbulent politics of suburban road expansion, the same riptides remain that killed highway expansion plans in the late 1980s.

"I have got a feeling you and I will be bouncing our grandkids off our knees before this road is built," commented Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson.

Johnson and Bensenville officials plan to participate in the upcoming meetings that kick off a three-year study process to identify transportation needs west of O'Hare International Airport.

Still, sentiments haven't changed within those towns that effectively blocked the same plans about two decades ago.

Johnson wants the western bypass and Elgin-O'Hare extension built on airport property, both to prevent airport expansion and to ensure the suburbs don't lose more businesses and homes.

About two decades ago, Chicago officials refused to give up airport land and state officials simply walked away from plans to build the Elgin-O'Hare all the way to the Tri-State Tollway, I-294.

For the last 17 years, state officials have done nothing to plan for that extension or the connecting western bypass, which would head south from I-90 along the western edge of the airport, creating a ring road with the Elgin-O'Hare.

The projects are expected to relieve congestion on the Northwest Tollway and I-190 as well as major roads in between, like Route 83 and Arlington Heights Road.

Johnson says he is in support of the road, but that he can't give up large tracts of his business district for it.

"You can't say you are going to be a major league pitcher and then cut off your pitching arm," he said.

On Monday, state transportation officials said their elongated planning process is meant to address such disagreements. But the Illinois Department of Transportation's project leader, Peter Harmet, said he can't guarantee every town will be on board in the end.

"In order to succeed, we need to work hand-in-hand with our shareholders," Harmet told the Daily Herald's editorial board. "If we are working through that process, our chances of (opposition) would be less."

Instead of moving right into designing the new routes -- which have been on the books since the 1970s -- state officials have decided to spend the next three years talking to local leaders and coming up with a variety of projects to address traffic issues. The final list could range from new transit to small expressways or large privately-owned toll roads.

In 2011, state planners will then start working on how to pay for the projects and precisely where they would be placed. That means actual construction might not start until 2016 or later, nearly 30 years after the original battles over the Elgin-O'Hare extension.

State planners say they will look at how to place the new expressways on airport property and lessen impact to the surrounding suburbs. But it remains unclear how much land the airport will have to give as the addition and reconfiguration of runways continues.

The airport expansion, which started in late 2005 and has been plagued by delays, is expected to be completed sometime before 2016.

Elk Grove and Bensenville officials continue to try to stop the expansion, which is taking more than 500 homes and businesses in their towns, through the courts.