(The Center Square) – In the wake of a tanker truck mishap that resulted in the deaths of five people, two Illinois lawmakers want to change the way the state sets up construction zones.
In September, a tanker ran off the road near Teutopolis in Effingham County and leaked hazardous chemicals into the air. The semi-truck was carrying about 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia and more than half of the toxic chemical compound leaked out.
The incident occurred near two adjoining construction zones on I-70 and Route 40. There also have been fatal accidents in the construction zone on I-70.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said he has been trying to get Illinois Department of Transportation officials to address the construction zone for some time.
“Our frustration is with state administrative officials,” Niemerg said at a Friday news conference in nearby Montrose. “Trying to have conversations with state administrative officials regarding issues on I-70 were met with silence.”
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said he has joined Niemerg to introduce legislation that prevents adjoining construction projects at the same time.
“[The legislation] directs IDOT to never place a primary route, an interstate system, under construction at the same time they place the parallel secondary route, Route 40,” Rose said. “That decision that was made a year ago led to what the folks who live here know was complete chaos.”
Rose said GPS sent that truck where it should not have been, and another part of the legislation would address that.
“GPS providers that operate in Illinois, to have a live person for the state police and Illinois Department of Transportation to speak with so they can upload preferred detours and in an emergency basis, they can move them elsewhere,” Rose said.
IDOT also would be required to reimburse local governments for damage to local roads caused by detours necessitated by state construction projects.
The two plan to introduce the legislation during the fall veto session, which begins next week.
