Illinois Government Research no. 46 1978: Local Roads and Bridges in Illinois: Problems and Alternatives

In recent years the deteriorating condition of local roads and bridges, pointed up by bridge failures causing deaths and many injuries, has become a concern in Illinois and many other states. Serious as this problem is, it should be viewed in a broader context, one raising fundamental questions of public finance and political organization. In particular, the viability of small governmental units such as townships is being questioned: Can they raise adequate revenues and administer the services under their control effectively? The local road and bridge problem was addressed in a study of 186 townships in ten western Illinois counties undertaken during 1975-76. In this article, issues deriving from the basic question raised above are examined in light of information gained during the course of the project, particularly from personal interviews with local road commissioners. The advantages and disadvantages of several approaches to solving the problem are then examined.published or submitted for publicatio