Channahon Man Fighting to Keep His Subdivision Safe From Semis

Al Wood built his house in 1960. A lot has happened since then, including his home address changing when the Leland Hills subdivision became part of the village of Channahon.

These days Wood, whose name is on the sign at the park on the corner of Donna and Andrew Streets, is battling to keep his neighborhood safe.

“I feel like I am in a ballgame and I figure I’m up to bat and I got 2-2 count on me,” he said at the village board meeting July 5.

Leland Hills subdivision is on the far east side of the village. Residents there have been working with village officials to try to solve the truck problem in town.

Because the trucks cannot turn left out of the Pilot, which is just west of the Interstate 55 interchange, they drive down to McClintock Avenue, turn left and cut through Leland Hills to get back onto eastbound Route 6.

Wood was at the village board meeting Tuesday night because a truck that had cut through the subdivision was stopped by Wood as he called the police. When the police arrived, however, they did not give the truck driver a ticket, instead giving the driver a warning.

Chief Joe Pena explained that at the time, there was no sign on the Joliet property that leads into the subdivision to alert trucks to the fact that they cannot enter the property. On the west end of the subdivision, the Channahon village limits end and there is a light industrial park that is in the city of Joliet.

Now there is a sign on that property.

Wood lives on Donna Avenue, which is one street over from Carrie, where most of the trucks try to exit the subdivision. Last week he called village officials when tour buses cut through the subdivision. When he saw the semi, he could not take anymore.

“Like a damn fool idiot myself, I got out,” he said.

He waited with the truck driver until police arrived.

At the meeting July 5, officials said they are looking into breakaway barriers, like those used in some areas of Shorewood.

Officials have yet to decide what is the best course of action.