Access Calhoun

Together We Petition

After the Great Flood of 1993, using tax-payer dollars, several government agencies researched and studied various solutions to the flood access problems of Calhoun County, Illinois. Today, 26 years later, we find ourselves in exactly the same situation with still no viable solution to this issue and no answers or reasons why action has not been taken to remedy this recurring problem.
Calhoun County is a small peninsula created by the Mississippi River as its western border and the Illinois River as its eastern border, with the confluence of both of these rivers at its southern tip. This geographic fact causes Calhoun to be somewhat land-locked; with access in and out via two state operated ferries, one privately operated ferry and one bridge. The only other route out of the county is at the northern border.
As in 1993, we are experiencing another major flood. Once again, the various points of access to the county have failed, one by one. The ferries shut down as the landings flood. This is a problem that the residents of the county deal with on an annual basis. Much more serious, though, is the situation where the levee on the opposite side of the Illinois River fails. The Joe Page Bridge across the Illinois River is accessed solely by Illinois Route 100, rendering the bridge inaccessible. This eliminates all river crossings, leaving the only other access to the North. Such a flood as we are now experiencing also closes both of the major arteries that run the length of the county along the Mississippi River on the West and the Illinois River to the East. Thus, even exiting Calhoun County to the North can only be accomplished via back roads.
In order to have even a single land route out of the county during a major flood, county roads must first be elevated by adding gravel before the only remaining route out of the county can be accessed. The cost of raising these roads (and removal of gravel after flood waters subside) is funded by tax-payer dollars. The route out is comprised of narrow, winding, country roads. These roads are full of blind spots, curves, abnormal amounts of traffic, abundant wildlife and transport trucks trying to supply the area with gas, groceries and daily living necessities. Many of these items that could be acquired in a twenty minute trip to Jerseyville now require a two and one half hour trip and one hundred ten miles via the Florence Bridge, to be obtained. From Hardin it is sixty-four miles and one hour and forty-four minutes to the Florence Bridge which is the next available river crossing. Recent flooding all along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers has put many communities in jeopardy, but no other community has the same geographical situation as Calhoun and no other place has such limited access. NO WHERE!
Highway 16/100 connects Greene, Jersey and Calhoun Counties via the Joe Page Bridge. State Highway 100 then travels on through Calhoun, North and West, serving other communities. This highway does not dead end in Calhoun County. The Joe Page Bridge is a vital part of our community. Statistics from 2005 state that 2,800 vehicles per day cross the bridge. Without access to the bridge via highway 16/100, Calhoun County sustains a certain, irreversible, negative impact. Commerce, salesmen and suppliers to the ninety plus businesses in Calhoun County use this highway daily to conduct business in Calhoun and points beyond. Lack of flood proof access creates a sharp decline in economic vitality for local restaurants, recreation, tourism, locally grown produce and other food sources and businesses and Calhoun County’s sense of place. Poor access negatively impacts public health and safety and the welfare of Calhoun’s citizens. As concerned, involved citizens we feel that time is of the essence. Poor access leaves a very high percentage of community members no choice but to leave the county for months at a time. These citizens, who must commute daily out of the county to work, are forced to live with family or friends, at campgrounds, or to board in motels. Those who choose to stay in the county must drive the northern route out of the county or boat in and out in dangerous, unpredictable flood waters. It should be noted that a high percentage of our citizens work in the State of Missouri. Being forced to use the land drive around from Calhoun to St. Louis can add an additional three and one half hours (each way) to their commute time.
As mentioned, during the flood of 2019, rising waters forced the closing of the ferries in the county. Because of this some residents had already been boating in and out of the county for six weeks prior to the bridge closing on June 3, 2019 after the Nutwood levee was overtopped. All of these options to access the county create additional expense and increase the risk of personal injury just to maintain an income for themselves and their families. Jersey County Grain Elevator (located in Calhoun County) is also a vital part of our community. This business handles millions of bushels and dollars-worth of grain annually, much of which comes from outside the county. This business contributes greatly to the tax base in our community. After the flood of 1993 the river receded, the elevator reopened, but no farmers from the outside could get into the county to the elevator because of a flooded route 16/100. This route was officially closed from July 18, 1993 until November 7, 1993 - 130 days. By this time harvest was over and our county lost out on tax dollars generated by this business and those farmers who had to take their grain elsewhere.
The National Weather Service website shows current river levels on the hydrograph along with flood stages and crest levels. With attention directed to the historic crests since 2009, 42.4% of these crests have been at three to eight feet above major flood stage which is 432 feet. These historic crests being above flood stage in the last 10 years paints a very clear picture that the problem with access to Calhoun County is certain to happen again if no action is taken. When the levees along the Illinois River were built in the 1930s, the world was a much different place than it is today. The increased building of structures and paving areas as well as other factors has increased run-off changing the role that the levee must play. The issue of denied access due to flooding and levee breaches is not going away. It is a multi-faceted, extremely complicated problem that impacts the residents of Calhoun County and even those outside of Calhoun. This situation will continue to repeat itself if action is not taken. Our world is ever changing and our means of access needs to adapt to the needs of the citizens of today.
Without reliable access to Calhoun our community and its citizens are forced to significantly change their way of life, with no designated end in sight. Our community deserves access to their homes, families and a dependable way to go to work to earn a living whether they work inside or outside Calhoun County.
Nothing can be accomplished by sitting back and waiting for something to happen. We must take action now. The price of hard work and dedication, the determination we put forth (whether we succeed or not) will prove that we have applied ourselves in the best ways we can. Hard work has always spotlighted the character of people...Calhoun’s People.
Whether you are a resident of Calhoun or not, please sign this petition to support our endeavor for positive change for our county and its citizens. Let your voice be heard. Please add your signature to support this effort to gain flood proof access to Calhoun County. If someone you know does not have access to Facebook, paper copies of this petition can be found at businesses in the Tri-County area. Thank you for your support!

For more information or to view the hydrograph and current river level, please visit the National Weather Service website listed below.
https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lsx&gage=hari2