Alternatives are better than Rt. 53 extension
Leave it to Illinois politicians to want to spend billions of your dollars to build a new tollway when simply taking care of our existing roads and widening them in a few places will solve the lion's share of the congestion problem. The Lake County Board, road builders and trade unions are promoting to build a nearly $3 billion, 12.5-mile toll highway from Lake-Cook Road to Rt. 120 (Belvidere Road) rather than simply upgrading and widening Rts. 83, 45 and 120.
Widening Rt. 83 and extending it a few hundred yards to Lake County Highway V69 (Arlington Heights Road) would connect that roadway to Lake-Cook Road, savings billions of public dollars and solving the lion's share of the congestion problems.
As for Rt. 120, simply widening it from Wildwood west to Rts. 45 and 83 would improve congestion in that area for now, and eventually widening Rt. 120 from Rt. 83 west to Hainesville where it becomes four lanes all the way to Volo.
Contact your Lake County Board member, state representative, state senator and Gov. Rauner and tell them to oppose the 4-cent Lake County gas tax, doubling the tolls on I-94 and shortchanging the schools along the proposed route of Rt. 53 for a more common-sense and affordable solution.
Increasing the gas tax and tolls in Lake County will hinder economic development, driving businesses to Wisconsin.
Gerri Songer
Hawthorn Woods