Dangerous I-80 Can Become Safer: Town Hall Set For Joliet

JOLIET, IL - Motorists from Minooka to New Lenox - and everyone in between - realize the Joliet area's Interstate 80 corridor is one of the most dangerous stretches of highway around. Hardly a week goes by without a horrendous crash that backs up traffic for several miles. Then came the nightmare of all nightmares. The late September fiery 6 a.m. tragedy that involved three semitrailers just up the road from Joliet's Larkin Avenue. That crash claimed the lives of two FedEx drivers, and caused the Illinois State Police to shut down I-80 for roughly 10 hours that day.

Since then, WJOL Morning Show Host Scott Slocum has played a leading role in drawing more attention to the public safety and quality of life issue negatively impacting Will County area residents. A grassroots organization called R.U.S.H. was formed. R.U.S.H. stands for Residents United for Safer Highways.

In the days that followed, several thousand people signed the online petition urging Will County lawmakers to stop the blame game and find a way to improve the safety for motorists using I-80 around Joliet.

Now, the coalition has announced plans to host a public meeting in three weeks.

On January 11, the Community Town Hall Meeting, hosted by R.U.S.H., will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moser Performing Arts Center on the University of St. Francis campus in Joliet, 500 Wilcox Street.

"Phase 2 of the R.U.S.H. effort to make I-80 safer," Slocum recently posted on Facebook. "Put this date on your calendar and plan on attending to show officials that something needs to be done NOW! IDOT will be there along with our elected officials. Share this with ALL of your friends."

Last week, Gary Mack of Mack Communications issued a news release indicating that the Will County Board's Executive Committee wants the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority to study the idea of widening I-80 through Will County by creating an additional new dedicated toll lane.

RELATED: 2 Semis Collide On I-80 In South Suburbs

RELATED: Second Victim To Die Was FedEx Driver

RELATED: Semi Driver Hurt In I-80 Crash Near Minooka

RELATED: Oregon Woman Killed In 4-Vehicle Crash Near Larkin Avenue

Images via JD Ferak, son of Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak