The McHenry County Board is supporting a bypass of Marengo instead of widening U.S. Highway 20 to five lanes through the city.
Last week the County Board approved a resolution asking the Illinois Department of Transportation to include a southern bypass of Marengo in its regional arterial system study.
Mary Lou Zierer, a County Board member and lifelong Marengo-area resident, said IDOT’s proposal to widen U.S. 20 “would destroy historic homes” in Marengo.
Ann Gilman, another Marengo-area resident and a County Board member, agreed. “Route 20 needs to be widened but not to five lanes,” she said. “That would nuke Marengo.”
Gilman suggested adding a third lane as a turn lane in addition to a bypass.
Supt. Jerry Trickett said District 154 opposes widening the highway because the high school is nearby.