Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Project Step Closer to Eliminating Need for Toll

​

Kane County has successfully secured additional funding through a bipartisan effort by state lawmakers, to support eliminating a toll on motorists using the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge over the Fox River when it opens next year.

The capital bill for the state's fiscal year 2024 budget contains $12.5 million to cover bridge construction costs.  The funding is in addition to the $17.5 million Kane County was allocated by the state in FY2023.

“We are grateful to our state legislators, under the leadership of House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate Leader Don Harmon, for recognizing the importance of this regional corridor and the financial burden a toll will put on motorists and trucking industry," said Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog in announcing the additional state funding.

Chair Pierog attended the 2023 spring legislative session prepared with economic data and letters of support to urge the State to contribute millions more towards the effort to eliminate a tolled bridge.

“I would like to thank our state lawmakers: State Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake), State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) and State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) with the support of Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) and Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles).  They were instrumental in driving home the significance of this issue, and passing a funding measure that protects the embodiment of what the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor means to the future of Kane County and surrounding region," said Pierog.

The total amount of funding necessary to eliminate the need for the toll system is estimated at $35 million.  The remaining $5 million is expected to come from a partnership between Kane, McHenry and Cook Counties.  Kane County will assume all future maintenance costs that were scheduled to be funded by the toll.

The 5.6-mile-long Longmeadow Parkway Corridor

passes through portions of Algonquin, Carpentersville, Barrington Hills as well as unincorporated Kane County. It is expected to relieve congestion on Illinois Routes 62 and 72, and the Main Street Bridge in Carpentersville. Longmeadow Parkway will improve highway safety and efficiency and facilitate an increase in business opportunities.

Chair Pierog also expresses her appreciation to staff members at the Kane County Division of Transportation and the Kane County Development Department for their steadfast efforts to keep the County's infrastructure and economic interests on a progressive