Illinois Business Journal Illinois Business Journal
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Missouri homebuilders dig Southwestern Illinois' housing market
Missouri homebuilders dig Southwestern Illinois New home starts in St. Clair and Madison counties combined jumped 36.4 percent in 2002. That percentage is expected to leap again in 2003, due to the number of new home communities being developed by Missouri-based builders and veteran Illinois-developers who have been building in both counties for years. By LORRAINE SENCI

   Missouri homebuilders are finding a hot residential market in high-growth areas of Madison and St. Clair counties, heating up the competition for Illinois homebuilders.
   "There has been a substantial increase in the amount of competition from Missouri builders who now have operations in Illinois," said Mark Fulford, president of O'Fallon-based Fulford Construction Inc., a developer-builder. "In St. Clair County there has been an increase in Missouri builders [continue]

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Wetland Bank Richland Creek
Leland Nollau's 26-acre wetlands bank is unique to Illinois. Companies are able to purchase credits from the Smithton developer in exchange for wetlands and/or stream mitigation at the site. 		Wetland bank offers developers chance to buy remediation, keep project on track
By KERRY L. SMITH

   SMITHTON - Leland Nollau has the answer for developers who want to delegate their wetlands-related worries away.
   The long-time residential developer and highway landscaper is developing a tract of a different sort: a wetland bank.
   Those who have heard of the concept of a wetland bank may think it's a way for commercial businesses to buy acreage to replace any designated wetlands they disturb [continue]

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Metro East population shift wears grooves in roads built for less traffic
By LORRAINE SENCI

   Residential and commercial growth in the Metro East is taking a toll on roads that were designed for lighter traffic. But recent improvements to key roads - plus plans for convenient connectors and new roads - will keep urban planning headed in the right direction.
   Drivers in Edwardsville recently found relief from congestion on Illinois Route 159 when the newly realigned state highway was opened to traffic after nearly 15 months of construction. The improvement is part of an overall project under way across Madison and St. Clair counties by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
   The project's scope: to widen Route 159 to five lanes southward from Edwardsville to Interstate 64 in Fairview Heights.

Average Daily Traffic Counts
   Route 159 is considered the primary business corridor serving both Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Those two communities are considered to be among the fastest growing in Southwestern Illinois.
   According to the 2002 annual report published by The Alliance of Edwardsville [continue]