Poor planning of road construction

Recently I have noticed a number of mentions in the media of our governor taking bows for the success of Illinois' major road improvement program. While there is no question that such an effort was long overdue and the governor should be commended for his success in obtaining funding for this effort, it's also fair to point out that obtaining funding for programs is but one of the responsibilities of an elected official.

As anyone who is driving on our roads and highways can attest, there is a major problem with the number of projects that are far from completion as the winter turns, to put it mildly, "wintry." This raises the question about the soundness of the plan. Was the schedule overly ambitious? And do we now face the idea that the old joke about having two seasons, winter and road construction, needs to be updated?

Drivers trying to navigate major roads such as I-294 and I-55 not only face major delays but also increased likelihood of accidents occurring as the change in seasons has clearly overcome many of the various projects under way. Lost amidst the governors' self-congratulation is any significant dissemination of the proposed schedules for these projects. The citizens paying the tolls, gasoline taxes, sales taxes, license fees, etc., for this work have a right to know how the state plans to complete or suspend these projects - safely.

One might also wonder why it seems that instead of celebrating a number of welcome improvements to our roads, most of us are instead hoping to not fall victim to the hazards that are accumulating as dozens of construction zones eliminate and/or squeeze lanes and make it harder for snow plow crews to do their important work during the winter season.

John Reda

Palatine