Effingham County, IL-(Effingham Radio)- State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis) has sent a letter to IDOT Secretary Omer Osman and Gov. JB Pritzker to urge immediate action to improve safety at the dangerous stretch of road at the construction zone from Effingham to Montrose along I-70.
“I have been highlighting the problems at this construction zone since April,” Niemerg said. “It is beyond frustrating to ask for help and to continue to be ignored. I want to be clear, the local IDOT staff has and is doing all they can. What they need is for the state to be more proactive and more involved. The local officials need help to maintain safer roadways and they are simply not getting the help they need.”
Niemerg said people are dying and families are suffering thanks to the unsafe conditions at the construction zone between Effingham and Montrose along I-70. The latest deadly incident was a crash involving an anhydrous ammonia tanker that leaked. This crash killed five people and forced parts of Teutopolis to be evacuated.
“It seems like every day I am hearing news about another deadly crash in this construction zone,” Niemerg said. “We need IDOT to come up with a solution and to take immediate action to improve safety in this construction zone. The incident involving an anhydrous ammonia tanker should not be ignored. We need action not words. It is my hope IDOT will take this latest accident seriously and make improving the safety of this construction zone the priority it needs to be.”
A copy of the letter is below.
Dear Gov. JB Pritzker and Director Omer Osman,
The construction zone between Effingham and Montrose along I-70 has become one of the deadliest stretch of roads in the state. The latest deadly incident was a crash involving an anhydrous ammonia tanker that leaked. This crash killed five people and forced parts of Teutopolis to be evacuated.
At one point this summer, there were four crashes in three days along this stretch of road. One of those crashes involved five semis and a massive fire.
Beginning in April of this year, I have been in contact with IDOT to urge them to make this construction zone safer. For the most part, my requests have been met with silence. The Illinois State Police have stepped up to patrol the area and some signs have been added but despite these remedies, the construction zone continues to be a death trap.
Real people are dying, and families are suffering. I realize we cannot eliminate all accidents, but we can and should do more to make this construction zone safer. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away.
What is needed is a plan to address the problems at this construction zone and a timetable to implement that plan. Local IDOT officials are overwhelmed and need additional resources to maintain safe roadways. The incident involving the anhydrous ammonia tank is not an anomaly.
Unfortunately, it is one of many disasters at this construction zone. We need action not words. I urge you to take the accidents in this zone seriously and to take the necessary steps to improve safety at this dangerous stretch of road.
Sincerely,
Adam Niemerg
State Representative, 102nd District
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