When there's flooding and people have filthy water in their basements, the deep tunnel sounds like a sensible plan. But to make it work, the water reclamation project may rob the region of a large share of its stone reserves. In rural areas, too, the opposition blocks zoning changes and permits to open. People don't want to live next to a quarry. And they worry about noise, dust, and truck traffic, which can all be controlled.
Quarries can make good neighbors.
The Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers encourages quarry operators to make friends in their communities. But there are immediate benefits too. Having a quarry near your town adds jobs and tax dollars, and gives a boost to local businesses. Subhash Bhagwat and Don Mikulic at Thornton Quarry. There's aggregate in asphalt too, even though it's basically a petroleum product.