State funds to make wider 173 a reality

By Melissa Westphal

BusinessRockford.com

The landscape along Illinois 173 has become a retail destination, and more growth is expected once the village taps into its capital plan money.

Signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday, the state plan includes nearly $66 million to rebuild the 173/251 intersection and widen about five miles, from 251 to just past Rock Cut State Park, matching up with two lanes in both directions to the interstate.

The intersection work is expected to start first, possibly within 12 to 18 months. The widening likely won’t start for two or three years.

Village President Tom Strickland said today that village officials are working closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation to decide the next steps. Strickland, who has been on the job for about 10 weeks, said “a lot of people have done a lot of hard work” to move this project forward.

“It’s going to mean revenue for the village,” Strickland said. “It’s going to be a big boost for the village of Machesney Park.”

Linda Vaughn championed 173 development during her two terms as village president before Strickland took office. Vaughn said officials talked about 173 each week, from village engineers and planners working with IDOT officials to state legislators and the Rockford-Winnebago County Better Roads Association.

“I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing the governor sign the bill yesterday,” Vaughn said. “It made me very happy. We worked on that project constantly. It was always a top priority.”

Strickland said both the economy and road work delays have slowed development along 173, which exploded with growth in the past decade by adding big-name stores like Target, Kohl’s, Menards, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond and more. Machesney Park’s share of sales tax revenues swelled from $1.8 million in 2001 to $2.8 million in 2008.

Ed Mecum Jr. remembers talk of widening 173 — known formally as West Lane Road — when his business opened 12 years ago.

“They told us when we came here that it would be done within the next year,” said Mecum, owner of Speedway Auto Mall, 1590 W. Lane Road. “That hasn’t happened. ... But it will be better for all of us once it’s opened up to ease congestion. We see fender-benders all along this three- or four-block stretch because there are so many stoplights and people are too close together. They’re still used to it being open and driving at faster speeds.”

Residents who live near 173 are leery of a long construction season but happy to see renovations aimed at improving safety along the busy 173 corridor.

Donna Wrzeszcz lives near Forest Hills Road and 173 and said her family didn’t expect the landscape to change so much when they moved in about seven years ago.

“I’m glad they’ll be doing the work, I just wish they could have started working on it before everything opened up here,” Wrzeszcz said.

Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at 815-987-1341 or mwestpha@rrstar.com.