DeKalb Times

Representative Tom Demmer wants to pass legislation to rename an overpass to honor a former colleague.

The resolution, HJR0057, would designate the Rochelle State Route 251 overpass as the "Sen. John B. "Jack" Roe Overpass."

“This idea came to me from the Rochelle City Council,” Demmer told DeKalb Times. “It would name the overpass after Sen. John B. ‘Jack’ Roe. Sen. Roe was elected to serve in 1972. Notably, when he was in the Senate he sponsored a bill that we all are very familiar with even today and that was the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act, which for the first time required elected officials and candidates to disclose contributions they got.”

Rochelle City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh told Rochelle News-Leader that construction on that’ll widen the state-owned route to five lanes.

“The project gets done when they determine it,” Fiegenschuh said in Rochelle News-Leader. “We think right now it's looking like the engineering has begun on the project and plans for the project should be finalized by July 2023. It's a pretty significant project. There's right of way purchases they need to make. Last time we talked to them, they said it could be 2024 or 2025 before the project even starts.”

The resolution passed unanimously in the House.

Roe served two terms in the Illinois Senate. According to Roe's obituary in My Carroll Country News, he secured the funding to build the Rochelle Overpass.

“He served in the Senate for a number of initiatives he was involved in the Senate was extending Route 251 between Rockford and his hometown in Rochelle which is now where this overpass that we’re naming runs,” Demmer told DeKalb Times. “The overpass in Rochelle is well known and highly traveled today. After he left the Senate, he was appointed by the governor to be the chief justice of the Illinois Court of Claims.”

The resolution was recommended to be adopted by the Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committee earlier this month.

“This is a nice tribute to somebody who gave a significant amount to the community and served in this chamber and other branches of government over many years,” Demmer said.