Resident: Loose Pavement Markers Dangerous to Drivers, Pedestrians

A Plainfield resident said he's noticed something troubling along Route 59 — and he had the evidence to prove it when he spoke out at Monday's village board meeting.

Ed Arter said since the spring thaw, he's been seeing chunks of reflective pavement markers — complete with sharp, jagged edges — that have come loose from the road. He said he's found them lying on sidewalks and in the street. 

"If we were in Afghanistan, you'd call this a piece of shrapnel," Arter told village board members, holding up a three-pound chunk of pavement marker. 

Arter said for whatever reason — possibly the brutal winter followed by the thaw — the markers are coming loose, and could fly up and strike a motorist, pedestrian or bicyclist if it they are kicked up by a large vehicle like a semi-trailer.

"This thing will kill you," he said. "This is really not a Plainfield issue other than it's our residents that are in danger."

It's IDOT's job to maintain the roadway. Arter was at Monday's meeting to ask trustees to make sure the state knows about the issue. On a recent walk, he said he found 48 pieces of markers that were loose or coming loose over than less than one-mile span between Joliet Road and Renwick Road along Route 59.

"[IDOT] should do something before someone really gets hurt," he said, adding people have been seriously injured or killed by chunks of flying pavement markers. "This will go right through you — it'll go through your car."

Director of Public Works Allen Persons said village staff will get in touch with IDOT regarding the issue, noting that the village is actually prohibited from doing any work on the state route. 

A three-year, $89 million widening of Route 59 in Plainfield was completed in 2011.