Highway

              While I was researching old records at the Joiner History Room, in the Sycamore Library, I found the following article printed in the Sycamore True Republican, dated Oct 24, 1921.  The headline said “ARMY TRUCKS TO WORK ON ROADS”  “NINE OF THE 18 PATROL MEN HAVE BEEN HIRED” This lengthy article spoke of having the trucks to haul stone and “using a new machine” called a maintainer.  This machine, a small scraper pulled by a single team of horses, brought a radical change in the maintaining of state-aid roads in the county.  The article reported in great detail, the plan to improve not only the surface, but the grade itself, using this new equipment.  A Mr. Russell, is referred to in the article as the Superintendent.  The article stated that there was 175 miles of state-aid road in the county, which was about 1/5 of the total road mileage, but it carried about ˝ of the total traffic volume.  Two early employees hired to do this maintaining work was listed as Frank Klein in Pierce and Afton Townships, and Martian Mack of Kirkland, who was in charge of a section from Kingston to Kirkland and then south into South Grove Township.

             Today, the DeKalb County Highway Department maintains 201 miles of bituminous-paved highways, and 45 bridge structures on the County Road system.  These interconnect with over 800 miles of township roads and 146 township bridges in 19 townships.  The County Engineer and his staff provide engineering expertise and assistance to township highway commissioners.  As a result of the cooperation between the Townships Highways Road Commissioners, Illinois Department of Transportation, and other municipal officials, a well-maintained highway system can be found throughout DeKalb County. 

             Some of the more notable highway projects over the past few years include the completion of Peace Road, The North First Street Project and the relocation of Somonauk Road in Somonauk.

             Now with help of the County Engineer, Mr. Lorence, I’d like to review the current 5-year Transportation Improvement Plan.  Please keep in mind that this plan reflects what is seen as the systematic replacement, reconstruction, resurfacing and relocation of the roads and bridges of the county.  They are based on traffic counts and patterns, cost analysis, and other factors.  All of which are subject to funding and other influencing circumstances.   Five- year planning has been a long-standing operating practice for the Highway Department in DeKalb County.   Some projects may be rearranged in the five-year schedule, depending on the realities of current happenings.  As with any type of long range forecasting, the further out you plan, the more difficult it is to be precise.  However, it is important, and does give us a track to run on.

Continued......