Alden Road expansion foes show dissent
ALDEN TOWNSHIP – The yellow ribbons tied around trees lining rural Alden Road have nothing to do with armed forces men and women fighting overseas.
They are visual aids to show residents and drivers just how many trees could be lost to a doubling of the easement when the McHenry County Division of Transportation rebuilds the road. Plans call for the 30-foot easement to become 60 feet.
One of the many ribbons is tied around a large tree in Dick Velmont’s front yard. If the county doubles the easement from 30 to 60 feet, he said, he not only will lose the tree, but most of his front yard. Some homes close to the road have yellow tape showing that the easement goes through the structures.
Velmont said he was postponing the roof and siding work that his home needs. He stood in his front yard sharing his concerns with Hartland Township Supervisor Evert Evertsen, who said he, too, was concerned with the project.
“I’ve got one of the smallest lots on Alden Blacktop,” Velmont said. “If I lose any more property, my land won’t be buildable or sellable.”
The county wants to rebuild the rural road, which does not cut through any municipalities but is well-traveled as a shortcut to Lake Geneva, Wis. The road is too old for patching and re-paving to do any good, according to county transportation officials.
Although the county’s plans are at least a year away, residents are not wasting time. Besides the ribbons, opponents have set up a Web site, www.aldenroadalliance.org, to share information on the project.
County transportation officials have stressed that the easement will not be needed everywhere, and that it will be modified as the final engineering plans are developed. Residents have come forward stating that the easement will go through front yards, living rooms, wells and septic fields.
The project presently is in preliminary engineering and is expected to cost between $20 million and $25 million, not counting land acquisition.
County Design Manager Wally Dittrich could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
Trustees in both Alden and Hartland townships through which the road cuts have expressed concerns about the impact on homeowners.
ON THE NET
• Information on the Alden Road rebuilding project can be found at the McHenry County Division of Transportation’s Web site at www.mchenrycountydot.org, under “improvement projects.”