AARoads Forum

Announcing the Aurora-Naperville, Illinois road meet.  Two of Illinois's largest cities (#2 and #5, respectively) with two separate (but nearby) downtown areas and their unique features along the Fox and DuPage Rivers, and everything in between.  Including, but not limited to:

- Lincoln Highway Shelter
- IL-59 DDI
- IL-56 Freeway
- Naperville Riverwalk

Regardless of the date, the met will start at 11:00 am Central at Sharko's BBQ (http://sharkosbbq.com/index.html), IL-59 and 111th Street, Naperville.

Definite "maybe", depending on timing

I am maybe but my most preferred Saturday is May 19 since I could tie this in with one of my St Louis area toy shows on Sunday, Memorial Day weekend is another good option since I could use Memorial Day as another paid day off and maybe make a side trip to Wisconsin to get some counties and visit my cousin and her family

Choosing the middle three and pretty much staying open.  Early in the year to be definite but It's a day trip for sure - an overnight would be added if I want to finish some highways along the way. (US-30)

I'm a maybe. Not voting because there's a high chance I won't be able to swing it, but I want to stay in the loop in case I can get out there.

The date doesn't matter to me so much as what I have planned this summer, which could be my first major foreign trip if I'm able to go through with it.

Nevermind on the May 26 date, got a toy show lined up in Chattanooga that day now.

Chose the first three but right now I'm open for any of these dates except June 2nd.  Coming from Detroit, so I would drive at least halfway Friday evening after work, stop overnight, then have a long Saturday -- finish the drive in, do the meet, and drive home.

This sounds interesting. I may try and make it to this meet.

I voted for May 12, May 19, and June 2.

Shoot, I didn't realize a meet was happening near to me (close being within six hours from me, one way  :pan:.) Might just have to attend. :)

That's right around my native home (Bolingbrook), and Suburbia isn't too far a drive from Southern IL...we'll see!

Don't forget the Casino and Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora!

And of course, every time I head back home, need some Portillos and Deep Dish Pizza!

Only if poo.

Quote from: ilpt4u on January 08, 2018, 08:47:37 AM

And of course, every time I head back home, need some Portillos and Deep Dish Pizza!

Pizza? Did someone say "pizza" ?

Quote from: US71 on January 08, 2018, 06:52:35 PM

Quote from: ilpt4u on January 08, 2018, 08:47:37 AM

And of course, every time I head back home, need some Portillos and Deep Dish Pizza!

Pizza? Did someone say "pizza" ?

I believe you now have US 71 hooked...reel him in!  :-D

Definite "maybe" on my part (depends on the timing of this event as I am a senior in high school and my graduation day is sometime in June...)

Quote from: US71 on January 08, 2018, 06:52:35 PM

Quote from: ilpt4u on January 08, 2018, 08:47:37 AM

And of course, every time I head back home, need some Portillos and Deep Dish Pizza!

Pizza? Did someone say "pizza" ?

Not just "pizza"

Real pizza. As in Chicago-style Deep Dish

Yum Yum...getting hungry...

Quote from: bandit957 on January 08, 2018, 05:20:28 PM
Only if poo.

You need to heal up first.

Quote from: ilpt4u on January 08, 2018, 11:05:44 PM

Quote from: US71 on January 08, 2018, 06:52:35 PM

Quote from: ilpt4u on January 08, 2018, 08:47:37 AM

And of course, every time I head back home, need some Portillos and Deep Dish Pizza!

Pizza? Did someone say "pizza" ?

Not just "pizza"

Real pizza. As in Chicago-style Deep Dish

Yum Yum...getting hungry...

LOL
Real pizza is where we call it pizza, here in the NY area. Chicago deep dish is deep dish. It's tasty, but it's a casserole, not a pizza. It's deep dish.

Part of me wants to go to this meet and bring my cat since it has her name in it.

But I highly doubt I will be present since I am already schedule crowded for trips in the May-June timeframe.

Quote from: Duke87 on January 08, 2018, 11:54:00 PM
Part of me wants to go to this meet and bring my cat since it has her name in it.

But I highly doubt I will be present since I am already schedule crowded for trips in the May-June timeframe.

Your cat's name is Naperville?

I'm not voting, as it's only a razor-thin chance I'll even be going to DuPage County this year.  But, if that razor-thin chance comes through, then it will be the weekend of May 26.

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on January 09, 2018, 03:39:28 AM

Quote from: Duke87 on January 08, 2018, 11:54:00 PM
Part of me wants to go to this meet and bring my cat since it has her name in it.

But I highly doubt I will be present since I am already schedule crowded for trips in the May-June timeframe.

Your cat's name is Naperville?

Har har. My cat's name is Aurora.

While Memorial Day weekend is the least convenient, I'm fairly sure that I could make it regardless of the date.

The votes are in, and May 19th it is.  I'll post a Facebook page for the meet as well.

Quote from: Brandon on January 25, 2018, 12:27:32 PM
The votes are in, and May 19th it is.  I'll post a Facebook page for the meet as well.

Sweet! Steph has the Sunday off approved so we will be there, plan on getting into town Friday evening before  :nod:

Damn! I should have checked this earlier, I could have made it if it was May 26th or later because I will be in Europe during those first two weekends. Maybe next time.

I don't have any plans that weekend (yet). It's also pretty close by. I will likely be in attendance.

I have to see if I have anything going on that weekend.  It's up in the air, as I may have to fly to Phoenix to help my mom move back to IL from Arizona.  As soon as I get more solid details, I'll let you know.

I'd say a 90% chance that I'll make this one.

Whoa!  Didn't see there was a roadmeet right in my neck of the woods.  Maybe it's time for me to show up at my first one  :hmmm:

May 19 would be a good weekend for me.  Thank goodness it wasn't the 12th.  Mother's Day AND my gf's birthday (whew)

Quote from: paulthemapguy on February 17, 2018, 11:25:28 PM
Whoa!  Didn't see there was a roadmeet right in my neck of the woods.  Maybe it's time for me to show up at my first one  :hmmm:

May 19 would be a good weekend for me.  Thank goodness it wasn't the 12th.  Mother's Day AND my gf's birthday (whew)

We enjoy meeting new people, so it would be great if you can join us. :)

And here's the meet itinerary:

Aurora Naperville Road Meet Tour Route (5/19/2018)

-   Welcome to Illinois's 5th largest municipality, Naperville, specifically the part located in Will County, Illinois's 4th largest county.

-   Today, you will go through:
o   Parts of 4 counties, Will, Kendall, Kane, and DuPage;
o   Parts of 2 IDOT districts (District 1 and District 3), as well as the Illinois Tollway; and
o   Parts of 8 municipalities, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, Aurora, Sugar Grove, North Aurora, Bolingbrook, and Plainfield.

-   Park the vehicles in the shopping center lot behind Sharko's.
-   Exit the parking lot and turn right (west) onto 111th Street.
-   Turn right onto Lincoln Highway (US-30) west.
-   As we head northward along westbound US-30, welcome to Kendall County and IDOT District 3.
-   Compare and contrast the old and the new, the new subdivisions, the old motels; the new warehouses, the old adult store as we continue along US-30 through Oswego.  Also, take note of how municipalities stake out their territory with their water towers.
-   We will continue across US-34, leaving US-30 as we go north onto Hill Avenue in Montgomery.  This was a small interchange until the early 2000s.  There is nothing left of the interchange here.  US-34 also changed names around that time.  Formerly, it was known as "Oswego Road" .  Subsequently, it became known as "Ogden Avenue" .  North of the shopping center, we cross into Kane County.
-   As we cross Montgomery Road, welcome to Illinois's 2nd largest municipality, Aurora.
-   We will turn left into Phillips Park Golf Course for our 1st stop, the Lincoln Highway Shelter.
-   The shelter is where we will take the group photo.

-   We will turn right out of the Phillips Park GC parking lot and then turn right again onto Montgomery Road.
-   Turn left onto Douglas Road (crossing back into Kendall County) and then right onto US-30.
-   US-30 through here was widened recently from a two-lane road into a four-lane divided road.
-   We will cross IL-25, the Fox River, and into Kane County (IDOT District 1), and then exit onto IL-31.
-   At the signal, go straight across IL-31 onto Watkins Avenue.  Turn right at the end of the street onto River Street.
-   Go to the end of River Street for our 2nd stop.
-   This bridge over the Fox was recently rehabbed, and the trail bridge underneath was added.

-   We will then go back to IL-31 along River and Watkins.  Turn right onto IL-31 (Lake Street).
-   Follow IL-31 north back into Aurora, and turn right at Prairie Street.
-   Turn left at River Street, then right onto North Avenue (ironically named as it is on the south side of Aurora) and cross the Fox River.
-   After the railroad viaduct, turn left onto IL-25 (Broadway).  Follow IL-25 into downtown and turn left at New York Street.  New York Street is former IL-65.
-   Turn left into the parking lot just before the Fox River for our 3rd stop.
-   Aurora has three parts, east of the Fox River, west of the Fox River, and here, in downtown, Stolp Island, in the middle of the Fox River.

-   Exit the parking lot and turn left onto New York Street.  Turn left at IL-31 (Lake Street), and right again at Galena Boulevard.  Galena Boulevard is Old Bus US-30 (former US-30).
-   Follow Galena Boulevard west to Densmore Road.  Take note of the trail bridge before we turn.
-   Go north on Densmore Road to Hankes Road and turn left.  Go to Golf View Road (by Bliss GC) and turn left to IL-56.  Here, we will enter the IL-56 freeway at a RIRO.
-   Follow IL-56 to IL-47 south.  Watch your speed as Sugar Grove likes to park in the median of IL-56 and IL-47.  Note the unpaved shoulders on this freeway.
-   We will collect at the BP just south of IL-56 on IL-47 (4th stop).

-   From there, we will go back to IL-56 and follow the freeway to I-88.
-   We will stay on I-88 for about 3 miles to IL-31, following IL-56.  After exiting the tollway, turn left onto IL-31.
-   Follow IL-31 north to IL-56 (State Street) in North Aurora and turn right to cross the Fox River.  We will turn right once again onto IL-25 and follow it down to Mettel Road/Grant Street just past the I-88 bridge and turn right for our 5th stop, the I-88 bridge over the Fox River.

-   After this stop, go straight onto Mettel Road, and we will pass by the Aurora Toll Plaza on I-88.
-   Turn right onto Mitchell Road, then left onto Konen Avenue.  Then left onto Church Road, followed by a quick right onto Molitor Road.  At Farnsworth Avenue, we will turn left, followed by a quick right into the office parking lot for our 6th stop, the revamped I-88/Farnsworth Avenue interchange.  Here, you can get out and cross the tollway on foot.

-   After this stop, we will go north of Farnsworth and get on I-88 east.  We will exit 4 miles later (after crossing into DuPage County) at the IL-59 DDI in Naperville.
-   At IL-59, exit and turn left.  Then turn left onto Ferry Road, with another left onto Celebration Drive.  Then left again onto Odyssey Avenue back to IL-59.  Turn right onto IL-59 and go through the DDI.
-   Follow IL-59 south to North Aurora Road.  This section of IL-59 was widened and improved a few years ago.  Turn left at North Aurora Road.
-   Follow North Aurora Road to US-34 where it becomes Ogden Avenue.  Follow Ogden Avenue east to Washington Street and turn right.
-   Take Washington Street south to Jefferson Avenue and turn left.  Turn right into the parking deck and go to the upper-most level.  Meet at the stairs by the southwest corner for our 7th stop.
-   Welcome to downtown Naperville and the Riverwalk.  The Riverwalk affords views of new and old bridges, some vehicular, some pedestrian only.  You can also walk under most of the bridges here.

-   Exiting the parking deck, turn right onto Jefferson Avenue and then right again onto Ellsworth Street.  This is the campus of North Central College, adjacent to downtown Naperville.  Turn right again onto Chicago Avenue.
-   Turn left onto Washington Street, followed by a right onto Aurora Avenue (by the old-looking Burger King).  Go west to West Street and turn left.  Follow West Street south to Rickert Drive and turn left.  This becomes Plainfield-Naperville Road.
-   Continue south back into Will County and turn left at 95th Street.  Follow 95th Street across the new Kings Road-95th Street Bridge across the DuPage River into Bolingbrook, and turn right onto Deatherage Drive to park.  This is our 8th stop.  Here, you can cross the bridge and observe the confluence of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River.

-   From here, turn around back to Kings Road and turn right to Boughton Road.  At Boughton Road, turn left.
-   Follow Boughton Road to Weber Road and turn right.  Turn left at Veterans Parkway and left again into the Bank of America parking lot for out 9th and final stop.  Here, you can see an old sidewalk that betrays the old street pattern in the area.  Formerly, Weber Road ended at Naperville Road (Veterans Parkway) here.

-   Turn right back to Weber Road and turn left onto Weber Road.  Go south to 119th Street, also known as Rodeo Drive.  Turn right onto Rodeo Drive and now you can say you were on Rodeo Drive in Illinois (gag).  Along Rodeo Drive (119th Street) is the Bolingbrook Golf Club (aka the "Roge-Mahal" ) owned by the Village of Bolingbrook.  The nickname is due to it being built (and Rodeo Drive named) by long-time and current Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar.
-   Follow 119th Street west to IL-59 through Plainfield, and turn right, back to our starting point at 111th Street and IL-59.

I was looking forward to this, but regret I will have to take a pass.  I had a medical procedure last week from which I am not recovering nearly as well as I'd hoped, and I don't want to cause problems for the itinerary if there will be good amounts of walking or standing around.  Have fun!

I am not going to be available at this road meet as well as this was unplanned... I have a Sectional Unified track meet over in Griffith that I have to attend on the same day. If it wasn't for that, then I would definitely join in!! Have fun though!!