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Aurora Beacon-News
December 13, 2001
By Linda Girardi
SPECIAL TO THE BEACON NEWS
MAPLE PARK — Kaneland School District officials are among those expressing concern about the proposed north-south
highway that would bisect the western half of Kane County.
"The centerline is of concern, given its unknown proximity to the (Kaneland High School) campus at Meredith
and Keslinger Roads and the Harter Road site on which the district has an option," Superintendent Charles
McCormick told the School Board this week.
He said maps show the highway coming someplace between the Maple Park campus and Elburn. "If it's just 300
yards away, that's a big concern," he said.
McCormick said the existing Interstate 88 tollway already poses traffic-related problems for the district.
The north-south highway would link Interstates 90, 88 and 80 on the far western reaches of the Chicago metropolitan
area, traversing through the Kaneland district's boundaries.
Kaneland officials are concerned about dead-end roads creating havoc on the district's bus routes as well as all
of the potential problems associated with highways — noise, pollution and hazardous materials.
"Once we obtain a sense of location, we certainly will give our evaluative input," McCormick said, adding,
"We're dealing with the biggest of bureaucracies."
McCormick said he has been in contact with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a major supporter of the proposed highway,
as well as the Kane County Department of Transportation.