Outing raises funds for U.S. 34 expansion

Jul 30, 2010 — The Hawk Eye

Christinia Crippes

Jul. 30, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BIGGSVILLE, Ill. -- From Ottumwa to Monmouth, Ill., people came out to the Hend-Co Hills Golf Club to show their support, and put down their dollars, for expanding U.S. 34.

Last year, Illinois residents got both federal stimulus dollars and a state capital bill that brought funding down to the west-central part of the state. Detours and orange flags signify road improvements in Henderson County, but none of the work is going toward the expansion of U.S. 34, despite available funding to move the project forward.

And yet, 17 golf teams came out to support the project and seemed eager to see the project progress.

"Many people are willing to help the cause because they support the cause. We've got to get this done," said Tom Doran, a Highway 34 Coalition member who supports the project for economic development potential in the county.

Doran spent the time before lunch as a salesman, with the relatively easy task of getting people to donate significantly more than the $50 per person registration fee.

The prize for the golf team to come out on top by the end of the outing is a piece of U.S. 34 asphalt. Doran said the trophy will be passed along to each year's winners until the roadway is expanded to four lanes.

"I asked (former Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy Martin), 'Am I going to have to go home to teach my children to continue this effort, or can we just get this done now?' " Doran said.

The first of four phases was expected to get under way this year with construction plan preparations but the Federal Emergency Management Agency's remapping efforts resulted in Henderson County losing its levee's accredited status, which in turn required additional guidance from the federal government before the expansion efforts can get started.

Since March, when Illinois Department of Transportation official Tom Lacy told Henderson County residents during a public update on road projects, the project has been on hold. Officials since then have said they are awaiting word from the Federal Highway Administration on whether the road will need to be built 15 feet higher or whether the DOT can proceed with its original plans.

"It's a lot of ifs," Doran said.

Doran said Thursday the Highway 34 Coalition Chairman Kurt McChesney heard officials representing the Illinois DOT, BNSF Railway and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a meeting a couple of weeks ago and plan to meet again in Washington, D.C., in the near future.

"One thing that's nice is (federal Transportation Secretary) Ray LaHood being an Illinois resident," Doran said of the former congressman who represented the district that included Peoria. "It'd be nice if he'd show his support."

The project already has the support of their local state representatives, including Rep. Rich Myers, R-Colchester, who came to support the coalition's event. He said he and Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, have been in regular contact with the local Illinois DOT district to make sure all the county's projects are progressing.

Beyond the first phase, planning is largely complete on the other three stages, but the funding for construction is not yet available. Myers said previously another capital bill is not likely in the near future.

But Doran is optimistic once the first phase gets under way, the rest will soon follow and be easier to get going.

"When I took (office) in 1995 ... U.S. 67 was an important project at the time, and it's still waiting," Myers said, adding there has been piecemeal progress on that highway. "It just takes a long time to build a road. I'm thankful to see progress on the (U.S. 34) road, and I don't want to see progress stop."

A spokesman for the Illinois DOT could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Newstex ID: KRTB-1064-47477532