Angela Kay Larson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce was a guest on the morning news show on WQRF-39 and WTVO-17 today. She was there to discuss the upcoming Midwest Aerospace Conference (MAC) which her chamber is helping to sponsor.
Ms. Larson touted the fact that the Chicago Rockford International Airport is currently the 14th largest cargo airport in the United States. She stated, in paraphrasing, the area is fortunate to have the needed infrastructure, interstate, rail and the like to make the airport successful and help local businesses market their products.
Let's agree that Freeport needs its larger neighbor to the east, much of the economic activity here is directly attributable to Rockford. If Freeport has any plans of future prosperity we can not continue to ignore the potential benefits of having a proven international airport within 25-miles.
Freeport and Stephenson County should be expoiting our proxemity to the Chicago Rockford International Airport, which means we need to look at the major connecting roadway between here and there, U.S. Route 20.
Currently U.S. 20 is a limited access freeway around Freeport, becoming an expressway with cross traffic at grade from just east of Freeport to just west of Rockford where it once again becomes a limited access freeway.
Have any local officials written to the Illinois Department of Transportation about the potential of making the entire stretch from Freeport to Rockford a limited access freeway?
Have any local officials written to the Illinois Department of Transportation about the potential of making the entire stretch from Freeport to Rockford a limited access freeway?
If Freeport is to have a robust economic future we can not continue to make the trip between here and Rockford longer. Many of us are old enough to remember when their were no stop lights between the two municipalities, first came Pecatonica Road and then Winnebago corners. How much longer before growth necessitates a stop light at Ridott corners?
Such a project requires years of planning and will not come without some complaining and headaches, however such a highway would be safer and much more effecient for businesses and every day commuters. Allowing greater marketibility for existing and potential residents and businesses of Freeport and Stephenson County.
Personally, I don't believe it is in our best interest to ignore the enormous economic potential the Chicago Rockford International Airport could have on Freeport and Stephenson County.
So I am of the hope that local leaders understand that we cannot completely sustain ourselves and then act accordingly.
As always, yours in honesty,
As always, yours in honesty,
2025
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