Friday's Sun reports that Will County authorities are asking the federal government for funding to begin the long-awaited extension of 95th Street, east of Plainfield-Naperville Road, over the DuPage River, to Boughton Road in Bolingbrook. If the project is completed by 2011 as officials hope, will it have been worth the wait?
The total cost for the 2.6-mile extension is estimated at $35 million. Most of that is for the bridge. Will County expects to pay about $14 million, and Naperville and Bolingbrook are expected to pay about $6 million each.
The project was conceived in 1990 -- 18 years ago -- and serious planning began about seven years ago.
How will this project affect you? Is is worth the cost? With the widening of Plainfield-Naperville Road scheduled for completion this year, and that road able to handle additional capacity, is the 95th Street extension needed? Or, will the extension provide congestion relief and an important link between Bolingbrook and Naperville?
Let's hear your thoughts.
I have mixed feelings. I think an additional four lanes across the river is a very good thing. Particularly since the dinky bridge on Weber floods out once or twice a year and royce follows it half the time. That leaves no crossing between 75th and Naper Plainfeild. It's a significant problem and without a 95th st bridge it will be suicidal to replace the obviously inadequate Weber bridge.
The downside is that the 95th st bridge is almost certain to increase flooding of the Dupage river and my home is likely to be flooded. Since 2005 I have seen three floods that covered weber rd. At that level the 'banks' of the dupage reach from my yard to the berm behind the houses in Bolingbrook. The reason my home (and my neighbors below me) does not flood is that at a quarter mile wide, every additional inch results in massive flow, and after meeting with spring-brook the river slopes down significantly. Constricting the Dupage river above spring-brook will certainly cause flooding in my neighborhood, weber rd. and older neighborhoods in Bolingbrook. Newer neighborhoods in Bolingbrook added berms in the flood plane so they channel water my way. Unless they intend to build a quarter mile long bridge I am sure that they are creating more problems than they are fixing.
Resident:
These "snooty Naperville people" you talk about are the one's who by living in Naperville have made your 1400 s.f. bungalow worth approx 250K instead of the 150K it would be worth in many other cities.
What ever, Book road has way more speeding people. They need to enforce the speed limit more often because snooty Naperville people could care less about the people who have lived on Book road longer then their subdivision has been up.
Posted by: are you kidding?
"Hey, Will County, I have an idea! How about putting the money towards fixing all the congestion on 59. Many many more people would benefit from widening roads that closely parallel 59"
Which ones? Book Rd.? 248th? Plainfield Naperville? I guess 248th is out as it doesn't go north of 95th. Book dead ends at Rickert, which only runs to Ogden. Plainfield Naperville is 4 lane N. of 95th already,and also ends at 75th. So which of these do you think is a viable alternative to 59?
I look forward to the day when I can take 95th St directly across the Cal-Sag and continue straight through to 95th St in the south suburbs. Eventually, huh? Maybe in the next life!
I for one will be very happy once the road goes in. It will stop many cars from speeding down my residential street, where children play, people ride bikes, deer roam freely. It will be much safer for my neighborhood. As posted earlier the only ones who will fight this are the new subdivisions that were built recently. Those residents should have checked with the city to see what was going to happen to 95th st. I cant wait for this to happen!
Hey, Will County, I have an idea! How about putting the money towards fixing all the congestion on 59. Many many more people would benefit from widening roads that closely parallel 59 to alleviate congestion than a shortcut to Boughton Road.
I have no problem getting from 59 and 95th over to IKEA in Bolingbrook. But I do have many many problems trying to take 59 north (or south) from 95th street. As do many many other motorists (hence my trouble).
This means Bollingbrook, Naperville and Aurora will have 95th Street as a main road, from Boughton to Eola. If both of the proposed sections are done. I think its necessary for shorter commute times, I only hope 95 doesn't turn into another Book Rd, or 87th Street; roads planned, but fought out by residents and lacking connectivity at parts. I would say they would be better off finishing the overpass at 95th and Wolf's Crossing over the infamous tracks to Eola Rd first before doing the part by Bollingbrook, which in reality only leaves funding possible for one of the two sections of 95th. Anymore overpasses on those tracks the Canadian Railway wants, the better. As for a bridge needed anywhere between Bollingbrook and Naperville, I would say between Royce Rd and Boughton, now there, there needs to be a bridge, otherwise you only got Rt.53 or Weber Rd / Washington St, and those really jam up and thats a long gap otherwise.
Anonymous | March 7, 2008 08:17 AM
"Will County needs to be more concerned with the rail crossings surrounding WVHS. The merger seems almost in the bag. What is Will County doing to ensure the safety of our children and families?"
I highly doubt Will County is concerned about the rail crossings surrounding a high school that is located in DuPage County.
As far as ensuring the safety of your children and families, that would fall under personal responsibility. Rail crossings are really quite safe as long as you as a parent set a good example in your driving habits and teach your children; a) not to stop on the tracks for any reason, b) start across the tracks until it traffic clears enough for you to make it across the tracks, including anticipating a stop light changing to red, and c) don't drive, walk, or bicycle around lowered crossing gates. It is amazing how well trains and vehicle traffic can coexist safely when these steps are followed.
We've been waiting for this for a long time. We look forward to a quicker route to Bolingbrook. I think it is money well spent. Who wants to take the slow Knoch Knolls route or jockey around to get to Boughton. I don't.
Just expect those who built over there in the last few years to complain about it. It was part of the plan before they moved here. They don't realize that if the plan wasneeded before they moved here we definitely need it now that they are here. You know there is more congestion
This was is easy....build the darn road. Bolingbrook had a hand shake deal with Naperville on this a long time ago. If they improved Boughton road, Naperville promised to extend 95th. The alternative is the 25 mph "speed trap" on Royce Road through a residential neighborhood.
Will County needs to be more concerned with the rail crossings surrounding WVHS. The merger seems almost in the bag. What is Will County doing to ensure the safety of our children and families?
I see no peril with 95th street ending before Boughton road. Would it be more convenient? Yes. However I feel the funding for road construction is better spent ensuring our children riding buses and families traveling in cars over rail road tracks travel safely.
The train traffic will increase up to two trains per hour. This will affect commuter traffic as well as local school buses and families. I propose the rail crossings need to be reviewed as a priority over connecting 95th street due to potential safety issues.
Another complete waste of taxpayers money. Leave the road alone! Just drive down Naper/Plainfield road to Boughton. What's wrong with that ???
But Naperville will do what it wants anyway !! A total waste of time and money !!!