Traffic Accident Issues addressed in Rose & Niemerg Press Conference

This morning, State Senator Chapin Rose and Representative Adam Niemerg discussed new state legislation that they've introduced regarding Construction Zone safety, navigation handling during accidents, and reimbursement for detours off of heavy traffic routes.  This comes in response to the tragic situation involving Interstate 70 and Highway 40 and the accident that resulted in 5 deaths near Teutopolis.

During today's press conference in Montrose, the legislators said that Senate Bill 2618 and House Bill 4182 were introduced this morning.  As Sen. Rose outlined, there were three main components to each bill:

1.  IDOT would be restricted from placing a primary route (such as an interstate system I-70) under construction at the same time as a parallel secondary route (Route 40).  The only exception to this would be in cases of emergencies.  It was noted that IDOT has pledged to work with all local counties impacted by I-70 construction (Effingham, Clark, Cumberland).

2.  Bill requires that any GPS Navigator System Provider operating in Illinois must have a "living human being" that IDOT and State Police can interface with on an ongoing basis - to upload preferred detour routes and, in an emergency, warn driviers to not go where they shouldn't.  This would hopefully prevent what many local residents say they've seen - that being vehicles heading down roads "they have no business being on".  

3.  State officials would reimburse local governments for the costs of repairing roads damaged due to detours from IDOT roadways.  Rose stated that County/Village/Township Road officials in his entire district all have the same complaint about their roads being torn up from detours.  He believed that those costs should be figured into the budget estimates for road construction projects in the future.  Senator Rose did say IDOT has already agreed to pay for one damage instance in Clark County.

Representative Niemerg said that the 2 state bills were Common Sense Initiatives.  With construction coming again next Spring, he emphasized that local IDOT officials in Effingham County were doing a good job, however he was very frustrated with State Administration officials and their lack of response to his inquiries.  Soon after the fatal accident near Teutopolis, Niemerg asked the Governers Office and State Administration for accountability and a full action-plan to prevent similar circumstances.  However, he again cited his frustration with being told by State IDOT officials that his claims were baseless.

One positive sign was noted as Niemerg indicated the formerly closed on/off interstate ramps in Montrose were now re-opened.  He also said that he is open to conversations with anyone about solutions and better handling ideas.

Senator Rose also indicated another positive, by saying that State officials have sanctioned the Effingham IDOT office to work with locals in planning for next year.

Rose also gave a final warning to all, to stay off cellpones when driving, especially when in Construction Zones.