Illiana Corridor progress

[mukade]

I spotted this interesting rant written in June 2013 about the Illiana expressway.
http://tollroadsnews.com/news/illiana-expressway-south-of-chicago-gets-lots-of-political-accolades-but-viability-in-doubt

I think the assessment in that article is correct. Why would a large amount of I-55, I-57, or I-65 traffic divert to this toll road that is so far out? If the area was booming, I might see it, but I think the area is actually losing population. I am sure the highway would look good on a map, but it seems like a very bad investment - like the Mid-America Airport near St. Louis.

There are many very good points in the article, but I especially agree with this quote:

Yet so far there is no sign or talk of any traffic and revenue study to assess the strength of demand by motorists and truckers for this road or even the most cursory analysis of the financial viability of the project.

If someone has that, I would like to see it.

In my opinion, they aligned it too far south to the point where enough people saw it as a road in the middle of nowhere that they'd never use.  They should have selected a route close enough to 80/94 for it to be a practical bypass for the traffic mess on the Borman Expy.  Expecting people to drive 20 miles south on I-55 and then 20 miles north again on I-65 to avoid the NW Indiana bottleneck is a bit much.

However, it was only going to be 3-5 miles south of the major intermodal centers at the west end of the tollway, near I-55, so it really wasn't a bit much.

No one is debating the intermodal centers would probably have liked it, but why should Indiana risk its tax dollars for something that might help these particular businesses in another state? On the west end, it might be close to these possible users of the road, but it would cross well south of any built up area of Northwest Indiana. The farmers in the proposed path were also pretty outspoken opponents.

[adt1982]

Here's a bizarre turn.

Rauner's administration is now seeking tax breaks on materials to build the Illiana.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/28/rauner-seeks-tax-breaks-for-illiana-expressway-project/aej6jwa/

[I-39]

Here's a bizarre turn.

Rauner's administration is now seeking tax breaks on materials to build the Illiana.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/28/rauner-seeks-tax-breaks-for-illiana-expressway-project/aej6jwa/

Bizarre indeed. One minute he's canceling it and the next he's moving forward. He ought to be focusing on the IL-53 extension before this. Protect the corridor, but don't build it right now because there are more pressing needs.

[ET21]

He can barely keep the budget talks going, sounds like the Illiana is becoming his procrastination project

[Henry]

I hate people who can't make up their minds! Either build the road, or don't build it at all.

[CtrlAltDel]

I hate people who can't make up their minds! Either build the road, or don't build it at all.

At this point, I think that Rauner is just messing with Brandon.

[noelbotevera]

I'm pretty sure IDOT and INDOT are slamming their heads against their desks right now because of how hard Rauner is trolling them.

[02 Park Ave]

Build it!!!

[US 41]

I hope this never gets built. There isn't really a traffic problem in the corn fields south of Chicago. Upgrade 80 when needed. The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

[silverback1065]

I hope this never gets built. There isn't really a traffic problem in the corn fields south of Chicago. Upgrade 80 when needed. The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

As my pavement design professor would always say "if you build it, they will come"

[Brandon]

I hope this never gets built. There isn't really a traffic problem in the corn fields south of Chicago. Upgrade 80 when needed. The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

Bunk.  The traffic is already using the two-lane county roads through there, and development comes even without a freeway.  It is a much needed truck transportation corridor.

[US 41]

I hope this never gets built. There isn't really a traffic problem in the corn fields south of Chicago. Upgrade 80 when needed. The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

Bunk.  The traffic is already using the two-lane county roads through there, and development comes even without a freeway.  It is a much needed truck transportation corridor.

This road (roughly parallels Illiana Corridor) has a horrible traffic issue. Just look at all the cars.

https://goo.gl/maps/OzLJU

[Revive 755]

The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

And Chicago is not going to eventually grow/sprawl out that way anyway?  I think this same argument was used against the Fox Valley Corridor (which growth has since gone west of without any freeway or tollway being built).

[iBallasticwolf2]

The only thing the Illiana will succeed in is making Chicago bigger.

And Chicago is not going to eventually grow/sprawl out that way anyway?  I think this same argument was used against the Fox Valley Corridor (which growth has since gone west of without any freeway or tollway being built).

I would think that the road should be built to prepare to future devolopment. The only way you can prevent more devolopment is put an urban growth boundary similar to what Portland has. While that might help traffic problems it would mean the population would be harder to grow and could turn into a barrier for the city. Perhaps put an boundary that still makes room for future devolopment?

[Stratuscaster]

I would think the dozens of towns and villages in between the corridor and the city limits would effectively stop any southern expansion by the City of Chicago.

(Or, did you mean "the Chicago Metropolitan Area"? Because that will grow on it's own, regardless of the Illiana.)

[I-39]

Don't build it now, but protect the corridor. Rebuild and Widen I-80 first and see if that helps.

I'm honestly not entirely sold on it being necessary.

[johndoe780]

Don't build it now, but protect the corridor. Rebuild and Widen I-80 first and see if that helps.

I'm honestly not entirely sold on it being necessary.

It would help, if at the bare minimum, I-80 was widened to 6 lanes from I-355 to I-55.

[I-39]

Don't build it now, but protect the corridor. Rebuild and Widen I-80 first and see if that helps.

I'm honestly not entirely sold on it being necessary.

It would help, if at the bare minimum, I-80 was widened to 6 lanes from I-355 to I-55.

True, but I'd go eight lane from I-55 to I-294 and six lanes from I-55 to Morris

[CtrlAltDel]

Don't build it now, but protect the corridor. Rebuild and Widen I-80 first and see if that helps.

I'm honestly not entirely sold on it being necessary.

This is my assessment too.

[Brandon]

Don't build it now, but protect the corridor. Rebuild and Widen I-80 first and see if that helps.

I'm honestly not entirely sold on it being necessary.

It would help, if at the bare minimum, I-80 was widened to 6 lanes from I-355 to I-55.

That's what's needed just for the traffic we have currently.  It'll never be enough for the future there.

[JREwing78]

Seriously. It needs to be rebuilt to accomodate at least 5 lanes in each direction.

[mgk920]

I would think the dozens of towns and villages in between the corridor and the city limits would effectively stop any southern expansion by the City of Chicago.

(Or, did you mean "the Chicago Metropolitan Area"? Because that will grow on it's own, regardless of the Illiana.)

Maybe some of them are at least privately entertaining the idea of seeking to join the city, in the same manner as the City of East Cleveland, OH is now actively seeking to join the City of Cleveland, OH.



Mike

[dzlsabe]

Thank Rauner this boondoggle has been axed. Finish I-90. The sixteen mile "Hypotenuse" between the Skyway in Englewood and the Strangler in Hillside. Watch as Schaumburg and Gary magically become TEN miles closer.

Heres the MAP  http://imgur.com/u9L0fFx Hypotenuse (in Fictional) the cure for Illiana fever

[Brandon]

Thank Rauner this boondoggle has been axed. Finish I-90. The sixteen mile "Hypotenuse" between the Skyway in Englewood and the Strangler in Hillside. Watch as Schaumburg and Gary magically become TEN miles closer.

Go fuck yourself.  Boondoggle, my ass.  Why should we spend any more money on that giant sucking asshole we call Chicago.  It should be spent on growing Will County, not dying Cook (or is that Crook) County.

[dzlsabe]

Wow, somebody still has bad case of Illiana fever. Take some hypotenuse and swear some more. Even pound your head against a wall. Heres the MAP  http://imgur.com/u9L0fFx

Some of Cook County is dying and has been for FIFTY? years...this would be a plan to turn that around as well as solve at least five major X-way Fups. Talk about giant, sucking assholes...Will County should be banished from District 1. Nobody but southern Will County and Indiana ever thought Illiana was even a fair idea.