By Brian Leaf
Development of a $4.5 million Chicago-bound ramp from Irene Road to Interstate 90 may hinge on the acquisition of 13 to 15 acres of farmland right-of-way by May 1.
The Illinois Tollway Authority needs land to park equipment and store materials when it rebuilds I-90 over the next few years. It is willing to build a ramp to Irene Road if Boone County and Belvidere buy the right-of-way, which will cost an estimated $850,000.
Below is the 11 page report Hanson Profession Services mentioned in the RRStar article.
The last paragraph of the Rockford REGISTER STAR article states:
“An economic impact study in 2010 by Hanson Professional Services estimated a full interchange would create up to 18,350 jobs within a mile of the project and add $2.4 billion a year to the economy, 20 years after completion”
This is very misleading—See page 3 of Hanson Report above: “The study does not attempt to answer whether development will or will not occur”….The study is based upon the assumption that development will occur” Read on what other factors are key to development.
The assumption of development is reiterated on Page 5. Note also that the impact results are based upon a continuation of the demographics of 2008.
