With snow-and-ice season approaching, public encouraged: “Winter Weather – Get it Together”
As snow-and-ice season fast approaches, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are reminding the driving public that it’s time for “Winter Weather – Get it Together.” Because of the continuing threat of COVID-19, planning and preparation, as well as patience and understanding, will be needed more than ever from drivers this winter.
“Our snow-and-ice response teams have prepared throughout the year to make this upcoming winter driving season as safe as possible. Whenever you see them doing their jobs, please slow down and give them room to work,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.
IDOT will have more than 1,800 trucks available for deployment this winter to plow nearly 16,000 miles of roads statewide, the equivalent of driving from New York to Los Angeles and back almost six times. Last year, IDOT spread more than 427,000 tons of salt statewide. This winter, salt domes throughout the state are close to capacity, housing more than 466,000 tons – twice the weight of the Willis Tower.
Click here to learn more about how IDOT is preparing for winter.
Your input wanted: Take the IDOT traveler survey
The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on the state's transportation system through its annual Illinois Traveler Opinion Survey, available today through Dec. 31. The survey is available online byclicking hereor visiting idot.illinois.gov.
The annual survey seeks feedback on topics ranging from road conditions and ice-and-snow removal to commuting habits and driving behaviors. Questions also ask travelers for feedback about any changes in their travel habits due to the pandemic, the IDOT website, the state's rest areas and passenger rail.
District Updates
In District 2, a critical pedestrian and bicycle bridge crossing the Rock River in downtown Rockford reopened thanks to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. Opened in 1988, the bridge closed in 2015 because of deterioration caused by road salt and runoff from the Jefferson Street Bridge (Business U.S. 20) that runs above it.
The Rockford Park District applied for and received the maximum $2 million ITEP grant to restore the bridge. Other improvements included LED lighting, decorative railings and leaf-shaped canopy structures that divert road-bridge runoff to prevent damage.
The project was completed through a collaboration between the Regional Planning Council and the City of Rockford.
A three-year project in District 7 to reconstruct an 8-mile stretch of Interstate 70 from just west of Effingham to Altamont was completed on Nov. 18. This section of I-70 carries more than 23,000 vehicles daily with truck traffic consisting of about 45% of those vehicles.
The project, which started in 2018, involved resurfacing, improved drainage and safety upgrades.
Reconstruction work began in the westbound lanes in 2019 before shifting to the eastbound lanes in 2020. Traffic throughout the project was maintained using crossovers and two-way traffic on one side of I-70.
IDOT offers free subscription email services to anyone interested in finding out more about construction projects and work zones, IDOT initiatives, important safety messages and more.
