"Preliminary earth work just started a couple weeks ago. If you're in the area, you're able to see the ramp taking shape," said Peter Stukas, Project Manager for the ramp. A westbound ramp off Interstate 90 to Irene Road in Boone County. That was one of the projects highlighted during Thursday's Boone County Summit meeting. Construction on the ramp will continue over the next year without lane reductions along with some other adjacent work. "New traffic signals at put in at Irene and Route 20," Stukas said. Speakers at the summit also addressed a more long-term plan for the area around the new interchange at Irene Road with proposed high density housing to avoid sprawal and businesses catering to commuters. "There's going to be people who want to put gas stations there, convenience stores, Dairy Queens and McDonalds," said Boone County Chairwoman Cathy Ward. Residents also heard about a project starting next month to bury part an oil pipeline from Canada on the eastern side of Boone County. It would run 5 feet belowfarmland between Poplar Grove and Capron. A company spokesman said about half of the 700 jobs to build the pipeline could come from our region. "Most of the various crafts that are used in pipelines are union crafts and many come out of the local union halls," said Dave Henderson with Enbridge Energy. Henderson also said farmers were brought in from the start on this project. And an agricultural mitigation agreement was formed with the state, looping off another project below these residents' home turf. The representative for the pipeline company says his project and should be finished by spring of 2009. That's about the same time projected for the Irene Road westbound ramp, which is being built as a detour for drivers heading to I-39 south. Bridge reconstruction will prevent them from traveling on that interstate. Belvidere Schools Superintendent Michael Houselog also addressed the crowd. He talked about more portable classrooms coming to one of the middle schools and the new donated football field coming to Belvidere North. And also discussed the need for a swimming pool and more schools within city limits.