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Daily Herald
December 28, 2001
By Patrick Waldron
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Hundreds of Big Rock residents came out Thursday in opposition of the proposed outerbelt expressway, many asking
what it will take to stop this project from every taking shape.
"What would it take for you to hear NO," said Mary Dalton, the Big Rock village clerk, during the 90-minute
question and answer session at Big Rock Elementary School with state transportation officials.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking comments on the proposed route of a western expressway that
would link interstates 80 and 88. The 33-mile path includes about nine miles through western
Kane County near Kaneville with the rest continuing through Kendall and Grundy counties.
Many residents in communities up and down the proposed path have been speaking out against the project and about
200 in Big Rock joined the opposition Thursday.
Dozens in the Big Rock crowd laughed with frustration at the lack of answers IDOT officials had when questioned
about how many lanes the expressway would have or where interchanges would be located.
But IDOT engineer Gregg Mounts told the group detailed engineering studies have not yet been done and repeated
the state does not yet have the funds to pay for the project. Mapping a route is an initial
step, he said.
But with maps scattered around the gym outlining preliminary plans and the support of House Speaker Dennis Hastert
firmly established, residents wasted no time listing their reasons why the road shouldn't be built.
Many asked why Route 47 couldn't be expanded to handle excess traffic or even Eola Road, Route 31 or Granart Road.
"Let them keep their money and use it to develop those roads," said Wilhelm Fendeisen, of Big Rock.
Others questioned the very need for the new expressway.
"It shouldn't be anywhere," said Nell Evans, of Big Rock, saying it would destroy some of the nation's
best farmland.
Some in the crowd criticized Hastert, a Yorkville Republican, for personally championing the project that will
cut through his district. Many cheered at the suggestion the expressway was the first step toward
a Peotone Airport.
Hastert, who visited Fermilab in Batavia Thursday morning, defended his support of the project and said building
the outerbelt was an issue of planning for the future.
"I've supported this for 12 years," Hastert said. "You need to look into the future."
The speaker said building the expressway will prevent the gridlock now seen in eastern Kane County and in DuPage
County.
Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy, who opposes the outerbelt, said the only other project beside the proposed
expressway that could so badly disrupt the county's 2020 Plan, a comprehensive land use
diagram, is something like a major airport.