Northfield mayor says state's decision to widen Willow Road vio...

Widening Willow road will only make it safer for school children. As it stand, frustrated driver speed on shoulders, drive aggresively, etc because this stretch of road is a complete bottle neck.

This is not a road owned by Northfield, so its unfair for them to ruin it for those living in Glenview and Northbrook.

Northfield critic wrote:

Widening Willow road will only make it safer for school children. As it stand, frustrated driver speed on shoulders, drive aggresively, etc because this stretch of road is a complete bottle neck.
This is not a road owned by Northfield, so its unfair for them to ruin it for those living in Glenview and Northbrook.

How is a 100 foot wide 4 highway super highway safer?? Road diet studies show that 3 lane roads are dramatically safer than 4 lane roads. Read the studies! Saving commuters less than one minute is worth endangering and tramping Northfield?

Why don't you expand Glenview Road through Glenview and put 294 ramps at Lake & Dundee to alleviate congestion on Willow? Spread out the traffic to all towns!!

Funny how it's a Nimby issue when we talk about little Northfield, but suggest traffic alleviation ideas that effect Glenview & Northbrook!!

Unfortunately, the vast majority of folks outside of Northfield do not realize that we are STRONGLY in favor of a wider Willor Road and one that meets the transportation needs of the entire region. Northfield residents do not enjoy living along a road that is congested and viewed negatively.
However, we also strongly favor the new and progressive road construction designs that allow for regional traffice flow, while preserving the safety and character of the surrounding community. All of these designs incorporate a wider road. Unfortunately, IDOT is working from a play book that is decades old and dictates that transportation issues are solved by simply pouring as much concrete as possible, without regard to any of the context of the surrounding areas. Numerous communities throughout the country that place an emphasis on modern transportation systems, quality of life and safety have started to design roadways that meet all these needs. It is possible to have such a Willow Road in Northfield, but rather than waiting for the outcome of the Context Sensitive Design Study (Lakota) IDOT and Schaumburg lead with the number of lanes and make that the focus of the discussion.
Don't worry if you do not have the time to educate and inform yourself regarding Willow Road, I'm sure that IDOT will be playing at a roadway near you very soon.

Northfield critic wrote:

Widening Willow road will only make it safer for school children. As it stand, frustrated driver speed on shoulders, drive aggresively, etc because this stretch of road is a complete bottle neck.
This is not a road owned by Northfield, so its unfair for them to ruin it for those living in Glenview and Northbrook.

Give it up. Northfield has had special treatment since way back with Governor Ogilve. Widening this major artery is long passed overdue and the crumpled two lane highway is an embarrassment to this affluent community. The plan as proposed includes a costly pedestrian underpass near the schools. Not sure what more these people want. Dundee road a four lane highway in Wheeling has a pedestrian overpass between two elementary schools for years, Glenview has a similar overpass for Lake Street. Why should Northfield be any different? Because of their delay tactics even with State Senator Schoenbergs forward thinking, this area will continue to be a hazardous bottleneck for perhaps another five years before such a project will even be completed!

I don't believe for one second the good people of Northfield support a wider Willow Road. To date, Northfield has done nothing to support this contention. It's obvious Northfield residents will selfishly delay widening Willow Road as long as possible.

I applaud IDOT for having the guts to move this debacle forward.

Northfield - Stop making this more complicated than it needs to be. The road needs to be widened. Period. Participate, or get out of the way.

Response to Steve-First the Governors
name is spelled Ogilvie.Northfield has enough water, underpasses don't work here. We are differnent in the fact that our entire town is 1 mile long.Plus our two schools are too far apart to be linked with one bridge or underpass. Unless you live here you really should not give a darn about our street configurations.

Response to Jack-
Your right the people of Northfield,Winnetka and Kennilworth all want the road to be fixed. But we want three lanes, not four.We have not delayed it, the government has. The mile long road just happens to go through our schools,churches,and playing fields.You don't live here so you don't get it. Get your facts straight before you speak.

It is inappropriate for people outside of Northfield to criticize its residents for trying to protect the sanctity of the community and the safety of its children. If Willow Road is a pain, take a different exit from the Edens. Really, it's not a big deal. As for G-view and NBK developments along the road, it's not like the merchants didn't know about the roadway. Willow Rd being two lanes doesn't stop anyone from shopping those stores. As others have noted, Nfld isn't against improvements, the townspeople would like a "smart" plan rather just a wider road. And as someone else stated, an underpass? The person who suggested an underpass has obviously not been around NFld. Take a look at the lakes--playing fields-- that are currently on both sides of Willow Rd. Bottom line, other people shouldn't dictate what happens in a community just for their "convenience."

Extra lanes for turning would alleviate the congestion. However, 4 lanes, 6 in some places, in a residential area, by schools, parks and ball fields? Schoenberg's recent actions, failure to compromise and have a "real" dialogue is typical of a cowardly politician who needs to get re-elected. Why should Northfield suffer just because G-view/NBk have turned their towns into strip malls?

Thank you Jenny and Matt!!!
I could not have said it better.
That is exactly how our community feels!

Note the "underpass" was noted in the original online Chicago Tribune article. Personally I would think an overpass would be more efficient, but I am not an engineer. What is apparent is that a widened Willow Road is long overdue ... as well as a repaving job in the short term. Despite my moniker, I live near Lake Cook Road which is six lanes across not counting protected turn lanes which makes it as much as ten at some intersections. The crux of this is that rather than fight the inevitable, Northfield should work with IDOT so that construction, protected turn lanes, overpass configurations, etc. could be maximized for pedestrian safety rather than hold surrounding communities hostage to what are now ineffective delaying tactics.

Do you commute to and/or from the North Shore everyday? Doesn't traffic really suck? Who's idea was it to redo Sheridan, Ridge, Edens and 294 at the same time? That's right -- JEFF SCHOENBERG. The same guy who wants to waste more MILLIONS of your money for another "flawed plan." Maybe he should not have ripped up the 2005 agreement between Northbrook, Glenview, Winnetka, Northfield and IDOT providing for a 3-lane Willow Road solution. Bulldozers were ready to start digging in 2005 and Northfield fully supported it. Obviously, Jeff is a smarter guy than the citizens of those towns and IDOT. You can see why most people don't trust Jeff Schoenberg and his fanatical grand-standing plans... something to think about when you are sitting in out of control traffic on Sheridan, Ridge, Edens or 294, without no viable alternatives thanks to Jeff Schoenberg. Oh, Gordon Segal, I don't think Willow Road is slowing down your limo to and from the C&B headquarters in Northbrook ... its the other roads your buddie Jeff has screwed up. As a retailer, maybe you should think twice before stabbing your target market in the back.

Jeff, you fool. I know you had hopes of taking my office once I get thrown in the can. You'll never win IL without caring "small town" IL ... all those little petty towns you have been marching over (like Northfield) are going to come back to bite you in the ***. Small Town IL will unite against you as fast as flies on s**t. Good luck.

Steve
We have been working with Idot and the plan was for three lane turns,but Jeff
decided out of the blue to make it four lane highways. Thats why we are all so upset.We were lied to and blindsided. We are more than willing to work with Idot. This is not the best plan for our town. You do not live here so butt out!!!!!!!!!!

Just to let you know that I work in Northfield. Yeah, this is really the worst place to drive, but I have no choice. Be a good neighbor. If you come to our community, you are welcome with our spacious roads and we have a welcoming attitude. You might just want to stay in your own village, but it is impossible. Can you do that? The bottom line is that you are just thinking of your own village. You don't think of the wider perspective. We interact to each other as a community of villages, not only a community of people within the community. You blame other people, other politicians, other villages, other mayors, without looking at yourselves. This is the price of progress and development. You should have blocked the construction of the Edens Expressway that divides your village in the first place. Or blame your parents for allowing this to happen. You see, this is the reality of moving forward. We cannot just think of ourselves.

Your excuses are just the safety of children and other pedestrians. Those are only excuses. You have to go out and observe how other communities solve this problem. Otherwise, there would have been children and pedestrians in the news everyday that are being strucked. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO WAKE UP AND GET OUT OF YOUR OWNSELVES!

I do not understand why we cannot go back to the plan that should have been constructed in 2005. It would save a lot of time and money on re-engineering. Maybe a few of the other ideas from the Lakota study could be included. Why waste millions on this one mile of highway when the entrance to the Edens off willow is so inadequate there anyway. It would be better to spend the money on a new interchange at 294 and Lake and maybe the ability to take the spur from Winnetka, Highland Park and Glencoe to the airport by putting in a southbound connection. Why widen willow to 6 lanes in Glenview and Northbrook. Too much traffic flow is being directed to one road.

Got a license to drive over 30 years ago and have had to drive on Willow through Northfield so many times I couldn't begin to count over the years. Here it is 30-some years down the road (no pun intended) and you're all STILL complaining about widening Willow road and saying this plack stinks and that plan stinks, and he said - she said. I say the people of Northfield need to accept the fact that this is now 2008 and not 1958 and things have changed. You have a police department who get paid to keep you and your kids safe. And you as parents are obligated to keep your kids safe. Do your jobs. You think all schools are built out in the sticks on rural roads? Get real. Ask Lincolnshire what happens when you try to hold everyone hostage as they did on RT. 22 for so long.

It is really amazing how people from other towns are telling the residents of Northfield what is good for them. The widening of Willow road issue has become a comedy of errors. Here are some common sense facts for those whose want to listen.
1. Anytime you widen a road, say from 2 to 4 lanes, the speed limit goes up, and accidents increase due to more traffic.
2. There are 2 parks and 2 schools in a 1 mile area.
3. Suggesting an underpass is the dummest thing I ever heard. After the Glen and the shopping centers were built, Clarkson Park started to flood everytime it rains. If you build an underpass, it will be lower than the parks or street level and that will be the first place the water goes. Every person in Northfield would then need a canoe to get across the road!
4. The proposed 4 lane road (with sidewalks) would make it too wide.
5. Anyone that is complaining about Willow road does not have to live on Willow Road. How many of the people that are complaining live on 4 lane highways?
We have already had a crossing guard get hit by a car and he suffered a broken hip. What would have happened if he was hit if the road was a 4 lane?
Are people in so much of a hurry that 1 mile makes so much difference? A 3 lane road is also not the answer. Wilmette changed a road to 3 lanes, and now they are going back to 2 lanes. Why? Because the average driver doesn't know how to drive and use a 3 lane road. They use it for passing instead of turning!!!
My suggestion? Keep it as a 2 lane (but widen the lanes like Glenview Road), close up the side streets from Bristol to Wagner so that people can not make turns, create better sidewalks, and fix the crumbling bridge.
Widening the road has been proven that it does not solve the problem. Dundee Road, Lake-Cook Road, Waukegan road, Lake Street, Dempster, and Skokie Blvd are all 4 lane roads. How is the traffic at rush hour on those roads? Better than Willow road? Progress should not be measured by the width of the roads.
The state does not have the funds to widen the road anyway! Is it worth millions of dollars to
change 1 mile of road to save maybe 30-40 seconds of travel time? People should learn to so down instead of being in such a hurry. If you don't like it, take another road!!!
Since I live on Willow road and my pictures on my walls already shake when trucks drive past, I will do everything I can to keep our town safe and noise free and attractive.

It is really amazing how people from other towns are telling the residents of Northfield what is good for them. The widening of Willow road issue has become a comedy of errors. Here are some common sense facts for those whose want to listen.
1. Anytime you widen a road, say from 2 to 4 lanes, the speed limit goes up, and accidents increase due to more traffic.
WRONG, IT IS UP TO THE DOT WHAT IS SAFE SPEED.
2. There are 2 parks and 2 schools in a 1 mile area.
OK
3. Suggesting an underpass is the dummest thing I ever heard. After the Glen and the shopping centers were built, Clarkson Park started to flood everytime it rains. If you build an underpass, it will be lower than the parks or street level and that will be the first place the water goes. Every person in Northfield would then need a canoe to get across the road!
OVERPASS (STATE OFFICIAL MENTIONED UNDERPASS. THERE IS AN OVERPASS IN WHEELING ON 4 LANE DUNDEE WEST OF ELMHURST BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS. OVERPASS ON 4 LANE LAKE ST IN GLENVIEW TOO.
4. The proposed 4 lane road (with sidewalks) would make it too wide.
TOO WIDE FOR WHAT?
5. Anyone that is complaining about Willow road does not have to live on Willow Road. How many of the people that are complaining live on 4 lane highways?
We have already had a crossing guard get hit by a car and he suffered a broken hip. What would have happened if he was hit if the road was a 4 lane?
I AM COMPLAINING AND I LIVE A BLOCK AWAY FROM LAKE COOK ROAD WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN 8 LANE ROAD AT THE SANDERS INTERSECTION WITH TURN LANES. ONE OF THE REASONS IT IS CONGESTED AT RUSH HOUR IS BECAUSE OF THE NORTHFIELD BOTTLENECK ON WILLOW AN ALTERNATE EAST WEST ARTERY.
Are people in so much of a hurry that 1 mile makes so much difference? A 3 lane road is also not the answer. Wilmette changed a road to 3 lanes, and now they are going back to 2 lanes. Why? Because the average driver doesn't know how to drive and use a 3 lane road. They use it for passing instead of turning!!!
My suggestion? Keep it as a 2 lane (but widen the lanes like Glenview Road), close up the side streets from Bristol to Wagner so that people can not make turns, create better sidewalks, and fix the crumbling bridge.
Widening the road has been proven that it does not solve the problem. Dundee Road, Lake-Cook Road, Waukegan road, Lake Street, Dempster, and Skokie Blvd are all 4 lane roads. How is the traffic at rush hour on those roads? Better than Willow road?
SEE ABOVE
Progress should not be measured by the width of the roads.
The state does not have the funds to widen the road anyway! Is it worth millions of dollars to
change 1 mile of road to save maybe 30-40 seconds of travel time? People should learn to so down instead of being in such a hurry. If you don't like it, take another road!!!
Since I live on Willow road and my pictures on my walls already shake when trucks drive past, I will do everything I can to keep our town safe and noise free and attractive.
THANKS FOR YOUR EXPERT ADVICE. I AND OTHER TAXPAYERS WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA WILL DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS. OH, BY THE WAY, I SUSPECT WILLOW ROAD WAS A MAJOR EAST - WEST ARTERY BEFORE YOU CHOSE TO PURCHASE A HOME ON IT SO SPARE US THE EMOTION WITH "YOUR PICTURES SHAKING." INCIDENTALLY, HAVING ADEQUATE LANES MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE SAFETY! IMAGINE, NO MORE ILLEGAL PASSING ON SHOULDER FOR LEFT TURNERS, LESS BUMPER TO BUMPER AS TRAFFIC MOVES SLOWER. ADEQUATE ROADS ARE MORE THAN JUST SPEED LIMITS!
P.S. GLAD WILOW IS GETTING A REPAVE IN THE MEAN TIME.