After a long shift at work, a driver is on their way home as they pass by the miserable scene of hundreds of chopped trees lying to the sides, with its dead leaves and split sticks creating gloom in the atmosphere. Beautiful lands given by mother nature that once stood tall, now full of woe as construction took them down for a mere extra lane. It must feel foul, for the environment around the driver to have been brought to such a destructional state. One thing is for sure, this mass road construction project on Routes 31 & 120 in McHenry and Route 176 in Crystal Lake is causing more damage than good.

Decided in 2018, a road expansion plan was finalized to create two lanes in each direction on Routes 31 & 120 in McHenry and Route 176 in Crystal Lake, where at the start of 2025, noticeable removal of trees began. After chopping many trees, the Phase 3 construction has yet to come until 2027. Creating more lanes and adding accommodations for walkers are some appealing features citizens are awaiting, yet this project could result in negative effects for our environment, wildlife, and possibly lives.

During the expansion of these routes, thousands of trees will be cut down, leaving surrounding lands in a great state of destruction in nature. The Federal Highway Administration confirms that of the trees surveyed along the IL route 31 project area, there were 6,905 estimated trees on these plots. Of these 6,905 trees, this project is anticipated to impact 5,176 of them. That makes 74.96% of the trees in the route 31 area will be impacted. McHenry County’s Environment values Oak and Hickory Woods trees, with 286 of these trees on plots, it is revealed the potential for 188 of them to be impacted during this project. Losing all these trees during this road construction will cause an increase of carbon dioxide into the air, and without as many trees, it will be difficult to absorb this carbon dioxide, which has the potential to negatively impact our ecosystem.

To make room to add more streets, many businesses and housing buildings are in the process of having to move out, resulting in many people left to figure out what to do after their residences are gone. Former McHenry Mayor William Busse shares his opinion in a discussion with Attorney Sever Walker Padgitt, “Local businesses and property owners need to say ‘Let’s wait a second and work out a solution to [accommodate] higher volume of traffic without knocking buildings down.’’ Busse confirms the potential destruction. 

Although more lanes may be beneficial, businesses and some housing may have to be taken down in order to create room to expand the roads, the owners of these structures will have to leave their plot. This is not ideal, and may create troubles, especially for those in housing buildings who will have to find a new home after their building is knocked down. As well, businesses who have found profit in the area could face permanent closure if they are unable to find another section to run their company or locate in an area where they no longer get consumers.

With the destruction of trees, many creatures, such as birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wildlife creatures have been kicked out of their shelters and habitats, leaving these animals to go out into irregular places, especially the roads and backyards. WildIfeel at Home, a studio to bring recognition to impacts on wildlife and how to reduce its harm, states, “Birds lose their nests, squirrels lose their homes, and deer lose their grazing grounds … Insects, like butterflies and bees, lose their sources of food and shelter … The loss of pollinators can lead to a decrease in plant life … impacting the creatures that rely on those plants for food.” As a result many problems humans face in their day-to-day life will be resolved, but the animals around us may pay the price for our wants. As construction goes on and we lose our trees, our wildlife systems can face many struggles, and our creatures of nature may stagger.

Although our environments and animals may be affected, some people think the construction has less loss and more gain. The Federal Highway Administration states that the IDOT tree mitigation policy would be followed to replace the loss of trees. Although this is an upside, meaning with the trees lost, nature can get back on track, there are negatives to this “reforestation”. In order to begin replacing these trees, digging will be done to replant, but Yale Climate Connections confirms that during this digging, fossil fuels will be burned releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and with overload of c02, negative impacts of global warming and climate change can follow. 

With concerns among building loss, The Federal Highway Administration confronts these worries, stating that, “Comparable replacement properties are available in the area”. While there is comfort for some knowing that there will be “similar” housing options for them, this still does not create a direct solution. A replacement property will not solve the troubles of all, as there is still room for many other problems, companies may not be able to operate properly in a new structure or surrounding, alongside some families/persons possibly could have struggles while moving to a new housing building, especially if prices change, crossing further from close relatives, potential need to change jobs or schools, and many other possibilities could result as a outcome.

The Federal Highway Administration acknowledges our wildlife and states, “Terrestrial and/or aquatic wildlife crossings are proposed at line locations.” Wildlife crossings would benefit our wildlife and help towards less animals facing unwanted outcomes and help them navigate through the construction. Despite this, there is still acknowledgement that needs to be made. Putting aside the fact the crossings are “proposed”, meaning there is no confirmation they are to come, these crossings will not bring the animals shelter. The animals that lost their homes or were disrupted during this construction could still suffer. Wildlife crossings are the first step to helping our wildlife, but more can be done.

The construction project will benefit many. More lanes that could help lessen traffic, more sidewalks to walkers, more access to bikers, and more benefits to many are great outcomes of this project. Nevertheless, we should still consider how this expansion is currently and will impact our environment and wildlife.