Environmental

· Salt runoff

The runoff from road salting is a major contribution to ground water pollution. In northern Illinois, about 23 tons of salt are deposited per mile per lane of roadway, or 96 tons per mile for a 4-lane highway.

A Morton Arboretum study indicated that soils within 450 feet of a highway are likely to experience significant accumulations of sodium over time. High amounts of sodium and chloride in the soil damages the structure of the soil, which inhibits drainage and increases the movement of heavy metal pollutants. High salt levels also negatively affect plants directly.

Salt that accumulates on the soil surface or in snow will be transported in runoff when the snow melts. This will cause streams, their floodplains, and adjacent wetlands to be contaminated.

· Salt spray

When cars and trucks drive a high speed down a road, their tires spray a considerable amount of salt into the air. Winds then carry the salt spray away from the road. At Morton Arboretum, a study in 1980 found damage to trees 1000 feet away from I-88. In response to the salt spray damage, and to contain salt-laden runoff, berms were built between the Arboretum and I-88. A follow-up study found that the berms did not lessen the damage. Apparently, the sloped surfaces of the berms angles the wind upward as it blows across, propelling the salt spray higher into the air, so that it took longer to settle out.

· Road kill

In Fermilab, the road will split the open space in two. Animals on one side will have to cross a high-speed 4-lane highway in order to get to the other side. In a collision between an animal and a car or truck, the animal always loses. In both open areas, deer abound. When a deer is struck, the occupants of a car are in jeopardy as well.

· Oil runoff contamination

Cars and trucks leak oil. Used motor oil contains mild carcinogens. The oil residue on the roads washes off during rains. The oil residue will get into roadside vegetation, wetlands and streams, and eventually into the water table.

· Habitat destruction

The path through Fermmore than 70 acres of open space. If berms are added for noise reduction, another 40 acres will be destroyed.

Salt runoff and salt spray will change the ecology of many more acres along the road's path, resulting in further loss of habitat.

· Habitat splitting

The health and diversity of plant and animal wildlife is enhanced when large areas are unbroken, or at least well-connected. The maxim, 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts,' applies to the protection of biodiversity in the remaining open natural areas left between development. One of the most important ways to protect our existing open spaces is to avoid building more roads through them. Ideally, we should enhance our open space by ensuring that large areas are connected by safe corridors for wildlife movement, or best of all, trying to add adjoining parcels of natural habitat to the open space when possible. The negative effects of a new road in a conservation area far exceed the size of the road compared to the areas it splits.