Illinois Roads

Well, I just want to second Brett's observation.  I am not especially impressed with the road quality, and especially since these are toll roads. 

From a car fixing perspective, I used to take my car to a dealership to get it fixed.  I always just assumed that the dealership that sold the car would do the best service, but then I realized how much more they normally charge.  So now, I usually try to find smaller garages, because they do good work and they are less expensive... and who doesn't like less expensive? 

Normally the way I find a mechanic is by asking my friends and neighbors who they go to.  You could try that.  Sorry I am not more help... anyone else have any suggestions?

We have had two governors who have gone to prison, maybe a third

there is so  much corruption in this state, including the Illinois tollway authority, yes the coins you throw into the basket or using your Speed Pass ,a portion is to FIX the roads, they dont -so you end up with repairing your vehicle from the huge potholes every Winter and Spring. Its built -in obsolescence.

New tires- get the road hazard protection in this state, hmm  & go to Sears Autocenter, if employee, take your discount, you'll need it!

Frost heave, hole, patch alittle, hole again a never ending merry go round

Ever notice the state highway dept orange trucks, four of them loaded to the gills with workers to fix a few potholes, look around next time your on state highways and off ramps. , A nice state job if you can get it, but yah got to know somebody, its not what you know in this state, its "who" you know.

Till then take alternate routes, report the potholes and hope for the best.

Gee , Wisconsin & Michigan  neighboring states has same weather we have in IL and they have decent highways to travel on, why? answer above.....

I can't say I've been to Illinois for more than a layover, but Massachusetts does have some pretty bad infrastructure, too. We've got tons of bridges that, on a safety scale of 1 (deadly) to 100 (safest possible), rate under 10. Of course, in a state where every road work site had to have a police presence (it was in the police union contracts), and they got paid ridiculous sums of money for sitting in a car for a few hours, how much money could actually go into making the roads good?

Heck, we couldn't even make a tunnel that doesn't kill someone or leak millions of gallons of water a month, and we had $15 BILLION to do it!

Corruption in MA, corruption in IL. You've got Rod Blagojevich, we've got the Turnpike Authority. WHEE!

The California roads seem to be improving greatly, if you can afford to LIVE here!

LOL!

gridlock48 said…

Frost heave, hole, patch alittle, hole again a never ending merry go round

Ever notice the state highway dept orange trucks, four of them loaded to the gills with workers to fix a few potholes, look around next time your on state highways and off ramps. , A nice state job if you can get it, but yah got to know somebody, its not what you know in this state, its "who" you know.

Gee , Wisconsin & Michigan  neighboring states has same weather we have in IL and they have decent highways to travel on, why? answer above.....

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To clarify a few things, Illinois Tollway Authority is a completely separate entity from the Illinois Department of Transportation. As far as the money you pay not going towards road repairs on the tollway........ When was the last time you were in Illinois?????? Almost every major tollway in Illinois is in the process or has been completely reconstructed!

In the winter season, IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) hires what they call "snowbirds". These snowbirds only work from November to March. Most of them have seasonal jobs during the summer and work for IDOT in the winter.  This is why you will see several "orange trucks" loaded to the gills with personnel.

As everyone knows, the State of Illinois has a huge budget deficit. Severe cutbacks have been made and one of the worse hit has been Illinois roadways. Blame corruption, blame poor governing, put the blame anywhere you choose. Yes, we have poorly maintained highways. It is not the fault of IDOT workers. If there is no money in the budget to fix things, it will not get fixed. IDOT workers have to drive the same roadways as everyone else.

Wisconsin and Michigan do have the same weather as Illinois. They DO NOT have the same volume of traffic as Illinois. Think about it. Anyone east of the Mississippi River has to drive thru Illinois to get to Wisconsin. Anyone west of the Mississippi River has to drive thru Illinois to get to Michigan!

As far as a state job being a "nice" job. Not exactly. I am a current Illinois Department of Transportation "snowbird"! It's not a fun feeling wondering if I'm going to have a full time temporary job every winter if it's not in the state budget to hire temporary help! As far as "having to know someone to get hired", I didn't know anyone, just applied.

Please remember, we can only plow Illinois roadways as fast and safe as the traffic in front of us will allow!!!!!!