I once reported that decade or older surveys showed that the State of Illinois was ranked 4th in the nation for the condition of our highways. In the January issue of InterBusiness Issues, Editor Jan Wright reported the results of a survey of 7500 truckers by Parade Magazine. The truckers were asked about the "toughest stretches of highway in America. The third item on their list: "1-55, 1-57, 1-80 and 1-90 in Illinois."
On December 19, 20, and 30th, I wrote three blogs titled " A look back from the 90's through 2009" about the folly of continuing to spend dozens of millions of dollars on consultants and engineering studies about where and how to build NEW highways in our area.
Most of us of older generations who helped make large improvements to this country, decree the lack of maintenance of older highways as we continue to spend MANY MILLIONS on PLANNING new highways. Instead of keeping up the maintenance on what we already have.
Reminds me of the referendum passed in 2003 to MAINTAIN our County owned Bel-Wood Nursing home, which we didn't keep maintaining with the property taxes we were collecting. We are now far along in planning to build a $45 million or thereabouts, a new B-W with money we don't have.
If it's not new, our community leaders feel we are not keeping up with other communities we compete with for residents and businesses. I fear it may have the opposite effect once rising property taxes and fees really begin to kick in. Starting now and accelerating into the future generations to pay.
In Peoria, I drive some of the worst streets and highways in the country. All because, we are told, the excessive freezing and thawing in Peoria. Sure, but another excuse for failure, just like "it's the economy, folks".
