I-294 Quarry?

[inkyatari]

With the fate of the old US 66 through McCook, IL, being closed because of the ground being unstable, are there any plans on the books, just in case the same thing happens with I-294 through the quarry at Thornton?

[edwaleni]

With the fate of the old US 66 through McCook, IL, being closed because of the ground being unstable, are there any plans on the books, just in case the same thing happens with I-294 through the quarry at Thornton?

No.

The Illinois Tollway did a better job of keeping the quarry owners from breaching the base of the highway.

As opposed to the old US 66, the quarry owners got greedy and not only breached the property line, but it allowed rain water (which is acidic) to seep into the limestone base. This is what is causing it to become unstable.

But I wouldn't be surprised if ISTHA had the quarry owners spray a sealant on the quarry walls periodically to help reduce acidic rain breakdown.

Many moons ago that quarry was being proposed as a new Bears stadium, a large stormwater retention zone for the MWRD and as a toxic waste dump/landfill.

[inkyatari]

With the fate of the old US 66 through McCook, IL, being closed because of the ground being unstable, are there any plans on the books, just in case the same thing happens with I-294 through the quarry at Thornton?

No.

The Illinois Tollway did a better job of keeping the quarry owners from breaching the base of the highway.

As opposed to the old US 66, the quarry owners got greedy and not only breached the property line, but it allowed rain water (which is acidic) to seep into the limestone base. This is what is causing it to become unstable.

But I wouldn't be surprised if ISTHA had the quarry owners spray a sealant on the quarry walls periodically to help reduce acidic rain breakdown.

Many moons ago that quarry was being proposed as a new Bears stadium, a large stormwater retention zone for the MWRD and as a toxic waste dump/landfill.

The MWRD are using the west and north lobes of the quarry for water retention.  THey built a dam in the little connection that 294 bridges over, according to google earth.

EDIT:  Streetview image:

https://goo.gl/maps/cbEn6TDQu7jN4GJ1A

[Brandon]

With the fate of the old US 66 through McCook, IL, being closed because of the ground being unstable, are there any plans on the books, just in case the same thing happens with I-294 through the quarry at Thornton?

No.

The Illinois Tollway did a better job of keeping the quarry owners from breaching the base of the highway.

As opposed to the old US 66, the quarry owners got greedy and not only breached the property line, but it allowed rain water (which is acidic) to seep into the limestone base. This is what is causing it to become unstable.

But I wouldn't be surprised if ISTHA had the quarry owners spray a sealant on the quarry walls periodically to help reduce acidic rain breakdown.

Many moons ago that quarry was being proposed as a new Bears stadium, a large stormwater retention zone for the MWRD and as a toxic waste dump/landfill.

The MWRD are using the west and north lobes of the quarry for water retention.  THey built a dam in the little connection that 294 bridges over, according to google earth.

EDIT:  Streetview image:

https://goo.gl/maps/cbEn6TDQu7jN4GJ1A

It's a part of the Deep Tunnel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_and_Reservoir_Plan