Road Bits: Inventor of Modern Road-- Widening Il-47

News of the Road.


1. INVENTOR OF MODERN ROAD-- Came across a story in the SDA Movers site about John Loudon McAdam (1756-1836) who designed the first modern highway by developing an inexpensive paving material of soil and stone aggregate (called macadam). He also embanked roads a few feet higher than the surrounding terrain to cause water to drain off.


2. WIDENING IL-47-- This is MUCH-NEEDED if you've ever driven the stretch through Woodstock to Huntley. Traffic along here has increased dramatically over the last ten years as Chicago continues its sprawl into farm lands. There is thought that this may be part of President-elect Obama's economic stimulus package and is estimated to cost $62 million.

Illinois Highway 47 is my preferred way to avoid the Chicago hassle when heading to points east. I take it from Woodstock, through Huntley, all the way to its southern terminus west of Champaign, and from there where I want to go.

There is also another $11 million project for US-45 in Grayslake where plans are to add 2 much-need lanes in both directions. Grayslake, much closer in, is even worse of a traffic jam than McHenry County.

Down That two-Lane (or More) Road. --RoadDog