Editor,
In response to Sue Lamping’s Oct. 6 letter, as shared in our conversation, County Road & Bridge (R&B) still has work to do on Pleasant Valley Drive North with the blind curve on a hill.
Currently we are monitoring the effectiveness of the safety measures recently made, including double-striping and suggested lowered speed signage.
R&B still plans to work on the right-of-way to improve pedestrian safety.
Your suggestion of widening this stretch of road was considered by the residents and the county, but not pursued. First, the current residents do not want the road widened, as studies show this increases traffic speed, when the intention is to slow traffic for safer pedestrian use.
Secondly, residents do not want asphalt up to their fence line, nor do they want to lose private property for additional road width.
Third, the cost to widen this stretch would be close to $91,000 based on a project similar in scope the county recently completed.
Your suggestion of cutting underbrush for enhanced visibility has been addressed by R&B in areas for which the county maintains. Additional vegetation limiting visibility is on private property; the county is in communication with respective property owners about potential trimming.
You related that the Pleasant Valley neighborhood was established about 40 years ago. The developer constructed private roads that were not built to county standards. The county was petitioned to assume maintenance of these substandard roads.
When the county did so, it absorbed the deficit, versus the residents forming a HOA to maintain the roads.
With 402 miles of county road, maintenance is never ending. We urge all drivers to be mindful of road conditions and drive accordingly for both personal safety as well as the safety of those living in the area.
Andra M. Wisian
Precinct 2 Kendall County Commissioner
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