Save our businesses, our family farms and our unique environment. Online Petition!
The Citizens for Southernmost Illinois have serious concerns with the purpose, planning and development of I-66. The negative impacts simply outweigh any questionable benefits for the people who live and recreate here. We can’t afford to gamble away our remaining economic and natural resources. CSI is dedicated to promoting and protecting our rural lifestyle and the rich natural environment that is part of our home and livelihood.
Potential Impacts from
the Proposed Interstate 66
Government Waste: $4.5 million dollars just to study a feasible route. $3.6 million per mile to construct an Interstate highway.
Loss of Agricultural Land: Acquired through eminent domain, thousands of acres of quality farmland can be taken out of production and removed from the tax rolls. This will not only impact family farms and private land but could result in restricted drainage and increase flooding.
Drain to Local Economy: Business and jobs continue to be lost in the area and the addition of another interstate will add to this exodus. Local businesses owners have indicated that the proposed interstate will detrimentally impact their operation by taking potential customers away from the area.
Loss of Tourism: Interstate 66 will take tourism through the state instead promoting tourism to the state. Why stop in Southernmost Illinois when you can go on to the highly promoted Paducah, KY or Cape Girardeau, MO for cheap gas, shopping, gambling, or a nice dinner?
Incompatibility with Outdoor Recreation: The biologically rich and diverse environment of Southernmost Illinois has made it a destination with a reputation for high quality outdoor recreation experiences such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, canoeing, hiking, nature photography and much more. The environmental devastation resulting from yet another Interstate highway in this area will have dire consequences for the natural resource-based recreation and economy of the region.
This is a dreadful plan. We already have the two highways running south through our beautiful forests. We don’t need another one going east and west as well. This would be a deadly blow to our natural areas that are the main draw in this part of the state. They would not recover from this plan — ever.
This proposed interstate 66 is a bad idea. Are the Republicans behind this one too !
I am happy to say I am a Republican, and I am not for this. Thank you very much!!!!
Hey folks, Jim brings up a good point. Let’s try to keep partisan politics or other forms of generalization that might alienate people out of the discussions and comments. We may not all agree on everything, but where we can agree, we need to stick together. Thanks everyone for your cooperation!
This is just a horrible idea and needs to be stopped. We’ve already been carved up enough!
another important point is to say that since 1-24 and 1-57 was built south of marion we note there are no factories or big warehouse districts on those exits; looks like 1-66 is not to be a boon to prosperity.
We’ll be wall to wall concrete pretty soon…. and every reason for living here will be gone.