Some hope Illiana plan now at the end of the road

New Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner won new friends on both sides of the state line Tuesday when he announced the Illinois portion of the proposed Illiana Tollway was being put on hold.

Cheering the decision were Lake County opponents who say the 11-mile stretch of road in Indiana running from Interstate 65 near Lowell to the state line will do little to spur economic development while displacing and destroying generational family farms.

Patricia Mussman, who has been the Indiana voice for opposition group No Illiana 4 Us, called Rauner’s decision a “great step in the right direction.”

According to Rauner’s order, any major interstate construction project that has not yet commenced will be “suspended to allow for careful review…” Please click here to read Carrie Napoleon and Susan Demar Lafferty’s story in the Post-Tribune.