EDITORIAL: Illiana a “Boondoggle”

What’s being forgotten regarding the proposed Illiana Expressway is common sense. For example, the notion that a lot of truckers would divert from the free Interstate 80 to use a new toll road is nonsense.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s claim that this road would cost half as much per mile to build as other similar highways in the country is equally ridiculous. This whole project a huge boondoggle, pure pork-barrel spending.

As for the private/public partnership to build the tollway, private investors put their money into projects from which they can reasonably expect good returns. Every set of outside experts that has looked at the Illiana Expressway plan has concluded that it would cost far more than what’s being quoted and would not attract huge usage even if it were a freeway.

Do we really think that private investors would not hire their own expert analysts and come to the same obvious conclusions?

The only way that private investors will be persuaded to put their money into this turkey is with government guarantees of the bonds. When the project’s actual numbers turn out far different from the current claims, those guarantees will be called upon and taxpayer dollars will be needed to complete the Illiana Expressway.

Paul Botts

Chicago

Full story here.

If you think you may be affected by the Illiana Expressway and/or are interested in a free consultation, contact our eminent domain landowner attorneys at 1-888-318-3761 or visit us on the web at www.landownerattorneys.com.

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