Leland Hill Resident Concerned that Kids Could be Injured

Al Wood, an 84-year-old resident of Leland Hills subdivision, came to the village board meeting Monday night to tell board members there is a problem in the subdivision.

"They sure as hell have got a problem, and you do too," he said.

Leland Hills subdivision is the farthest east subdivision in the village. Trucks that would ordinarily turn left out of the Pilot, just east of Interstate 55, are turning right, heading east on Route 6, turning left onto McClintock and cutting through Leland Hills subdivision to re-enter Route 6 headed west.

"These trucks can't turn left on Route 6, but they can turn down McClintock," he said.

Wood said he is concerned because there are a lot of children who live in that subdivision and that it does not have any sidewalks.

Village President Joe Cook said he is aware that this is going on and is concerned as well.

"I've heard from literally dozens of residents down there," he said. "It's a dangerous, dangerous situation."

Cook referred to Channahon Police Chief Joe Pena to get his opinion on what might be done. He said that the police department indeed gets phone calls from residents when the trucks are driving through the neighborhood.

"When we get there, they're gone," he said. "Short of putting people out there and writing tickets, there's not much we can do."

Cook reminded those in attendance that the Illinois Department of Transportation has now put the I55 and Route 6 interchange on its multi-year plan and engineering is currently going on to realign Frontage Road in that area. But, actual construction in that area is more than five years away.

"Somehow, we've got to get a handle on these trucks," he said.

Wood, for his part, did not stand idylly by before coming to the meeting Monday. He has tried to stop the trucks that passed through on Carrie, the street on which he lives.

"I stopped one and she was coming down Carrie and I hailed her down and you know what she gave me? he asked. "The Italian salute."