I could have easily titled this post, “Look out, Road Work ahead!,” but if you live in Plainfield IL that kind of news isn’t really news at all… it’s a fact of life!
Since the huge migration from the northwest suburbs, and the city itself, the one thing Plainfield IL wasn’t prepared for was the traffic that resulted from the influx of new residents over the last 10-12 years. Our family is no stranger to the long commute times that have resulted from the masses who have chosen to make the Will County area their new home.
My husband works in Niles, IL near O’Hare airport, and he easily spends anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes in traffic, both to and from work every day. It’s a nightmare, but that’s what happens when the summer road work season heads into high gear. My poor husband is a slave to the horrible summer commute times, but we are much too in love with our house and our neighborhood to even think about moving! Tony is a such a good person about it though, he hardly ever complains. We do have 4 kids, so maybe he considers it the “calm before the storm”, LOL!
This years project though, isn’t your run of the mill “patch and fill” road construction.
Earlier this spring the state of Illinois began the huge undertaking of extending the existing I-355 North South Tollway all the way from Bolingbrook, IL to the I-80 junction in New Lenox, Illinois.
When I was a little girl, I remember the first time my mom “tried out” the new I-355 tollway. My aunt lived in Naperville and we lived in Addison. The only way to get to her house before the new tollway was built, was to take Rte 83 to Odgen, which took quite a while. It’s not everyday that you see and entirely new highway being built or being added to via construction, which is why this new extension is such a big deal for the area!
When this project is done, I’m hoping to get my husband back! Word is, the project is running on time and scheduled to be completed this fall. I can’t wait!
On a more local note, there is more road construction in the future for commuters as road work starts on 143rd St between Rt. 59 and Rt. 30. This construction will hopefully help alleviate some of the truck and semi traffic through the downtown Plainfield area. The cost of the project is being paid for by the state of Illinois because it involves a state highway. (good news on the property tax front! )
There are also plans to extend Rt 126 through to 143rd, to further keep truck traffic from the historic downtown area, which is set to get underway in 2008.
The historic road designation for the original Route 66 and Lincoln Highway, will both remain in place even when the state highways are moved out of the downtown area.
My friend Tisza-Major Posner, writes a blog on her community in Claremont, California and coincidentally it’s called Route 66 Living. If you trace a little bit of the history of the historic Route 66, you’re likely to find that it lies somewhere between our two blogs!
If you are already a commuter, and you pass the construction on the heavily traveled I-355 tollway… take note! You are witnessing history in the making!
Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233
