July 22, 2021
Letting 101: A guided tour through IDOT's bid letting process
Over the course of the year, the Illinois Department of Transportation has seven regularly scheduled lettings, representing more than 1,000 projects throughout the state, from multimillion dollar interstate reconstructions to relatively minor resurfacings. Thanks to Gov. JB Pritzker and the historic Rebuild Illinois capital program, the number of projects happening in Illinois has significantly increased.
 
With the increase in projects, IDOT strives to level the playing field, providing minorities, women and other eligible small businesses an opportunity to take part in rebuilding Illinois through the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. Learn more about the DBE program and the resources IDOT provides to both established and emerging businesses here.

But what is a bid letting? Essentially, a letting is a five- or six-week period when road, bridge, aeronautics and various other construction projects are available for bidding. Contractors, subcontractors, materials suppliers and transportation industry groups may review and bid on the projects. The process is governed by strict statutory guidelines.
 
Our schedule highlights important deadlines throughout the letting period.
If you are new to the IDOT bid letting process or need updated information, following are some helpful resources:
 
 
Click here to read the full guide on our letting process.
 
Stay tuned to the Telegram for more about what is happening with IDOT lettings. In future editions, a new section will be dedicated to upcoming letting dates, special bid opportunities and more. This new section will be located below our District Updates.
Seeing blue: New signs direct motorists to alternative fueling sites

The blue signs seen along Illinois interstates will show more than places to eat, sleep and get gas. New signs are going up this summer to show motorists relying on EV, CNG and LPG where to refuel so they can reach their destination.
 
Click here to learn more.
In District 3, workers removed beams from the eastbound Interstate 80 bridge over the Little Vermilion River in La Salle on July 8 as part of a $16.38 million construction project to rebuild the bridges in both directions. Work also included repairing the bridges carrying I-80 over East Third Road and Raccuglia Drive.
 
The beam removal work required a full closure of I-80 between exits 75 and 79, as workers needed to use charges to remove the beams from the piers of the 60-foot-tall eastbound bridge. Traffic on I-80, which is using the new westbound lanes, reopened the next morning. This project is expected to wrap up later this fall.
District 5 partnered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in March to oversee construction on a $2.7 million project at the Moraine View State Recreation Area, a state park near Le Roy. Work was mostly confined to the inner roads of the park and included resurfacing of roads, parking areas, campsites and hunting lots; replacing signs and guardrails; building concrete barrier walls; and making accessibility improvements.
 
Special provisions were made for this project due to the endangered and nonvenomous Kirtland’s snake, which is indigenous to this region. Work is expected to be completed this fall.
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