Toll Signs Removed: New Kane County Bridge to Open Without User Fee
In preparation of the much-anticipated opening of the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over the Fox River, two toll signs have been taken down. This action, along with the eventual removal of all unused toll equipment near the bridge, marks the end of a planned motorist user fee to cover construction expenses related to the bridge.
The Longmeadow Parkway Bridge near Carpentersville is the final part of a 5.6-mile-long corridor that crosses through the northern section of Kane County. The corridor stretches from Huntley Road to IL Route 62.
In a celebratory event, Kane County Board Chairman Corinne Pierog and others cheered as a large crane removed the signs.
“This is a day we have been waiting for since the idea of a tolling system was introduced," said Chairman Pierog. “Kane County made a commitment to find the funding necessary to remove this financial burden from motorists, and with the generous help from our state lawmakers and our neighboring counties, the toll is permanently gone," said Pierog.
The concept of the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor dates back four decades as limited river crossings and a growing population in the northern end of Kane County created major challenges for residents commuting across the Fox River for work, school, business or leisure.
Although the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor was among the trio of bridge and roadway corridors sanctioned by the Federal Highway Administration in 2001, only a portion of the required funds were provided by the federal government for this specific project. As a result, a task force comprised of community stakeholders opted to implement a toll system to finance the construction expenses of the bridge.
Responding to public demand to abandon the tolls, Kane County successfully lobbied for an additional $35 million in funding from the state and regional partners, ending the toll system prior to the bridge's opening.
The Longmeadow Parkway Bridge is expected to debut to the motoring public in the fall. The total cost of the project is $204 million.
Learn more about the project at http://kdot.countyofkane.org/Pages/Default.aspx
