From the friendsofknollwoodfire.com:

IDOT and the Rt. 176/Rt. 41 Interchange

One argument that has been used to create a sense of urgency in dissolving the Knollwood Fire Department is the 176/41 interchange plan.

For at least 20 years, the Illinois Department of Transportation has been talking about reconfiguring that interchange – it’s clearly not an optimal design, especially now that traffic in the area has increased so much. If that takes place, it will probably necessitate relocation of the Knollwood Fire Station, at IDOT’s expense. However, despite much talk and a few public meetings in the last few years, the interchange reconfiguration is not in IDOT’s FY 2018-2023 plan, nor is there funding for it on the horizon.

We have received confirmation of that in a recent email exchange with IDOT; below are a some excerpts. Read the full thread here.

“The general scope of work for this improvement consists of interchange and intersection reconstruction, bridge replacement, bicyclist and pedestrian accommodations, and drainage improvements including the relocation of the pump station for the US 41 at IL 176 interchange (Pump Station 37).  The relocation of Pump Station 37 and associated drainage improvements are included in the Department’s FY 2018-2023 Proposed Highway Improvement Program. The remainder of the project is not currently included in the multi-year program.”

?“The interchange project is not in our current multi-year program, so there is no immediate need to relocate the fire station.”

From the FriendsofKnollwood Facebook page:

In reference to the Daliy Northshore article, here is a rational thought to calm the false narrative that the station is going to be “demolished”

This article may give an incorrect impression of the timeline for the overall interchange project. While it’s true that IDOT intends the pumping station and drainage improvements to take place in the relatively near future, the “demolition of the current Rockland Fire Protection District fire station” Mr. Irvin refers to is NOT imminent.

We have documentation from IDOT that the full interchange reconstruction project is still NOT in IDOT’s 5-year plan: “The interchange project is not in our current multi-year program, so there is no immediate need to relocate the fire station.” (Read more www.friendsofknollwoodfire.com/idot-emails.)

Therefore, loss of access to the current fire station is NOT a factor in the current. controversy regarding the threatened dissolution of the Knollwood Fire Department.