July 5, 2022
Important: See below for upcoming cutoff date reminders in letting section
Employee Spotlight: Region 5 Engineer Kirk H. Brown

Kirk H. Brown has stepped into a new role in a familiar place as the Region 5 engineer for Districts 8 and 9 in the southern part of the state.
 
State bike maps blaze a new trail

A collaboration by IDOT and The Garden Clubs of Illinois has helped a northern Illinois roadside memorial honoring soldiers shine brighter for years to come.
New Illinois highway map is here

The new Illinois Official Highway Map has arrived. The map includes route updates as well as a new feature that shows mileage between towns and marked route junctions to help residents and visitors alike plan their travels throughout Illinois.

For those with a smartphone, QR codes printed on the maps provide easy access to information on IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois site for travel conditions, Amtrak, the Office of Tourism’s Enjoy Illinois campaign as well as Illinois Department of Natural Resources historic sites and parks.
Click here to request a map. Free copies also will be available at rest areas and department facilities throughout the state.
Region 3, District 4 is converting the junction of Illinois 336 and County Road 600E near Colchester in McDonough County into a J-turn intersection. The intersection has a history of fatal and severe crashes, including four fatalities, between 2015 and 2020.

When completed, traffic on County Road 600 E wanting to cross the road will have to turn right onto Illinois 336, travel a third of a mile to the existing median left-turn lane, and then make a U-turn onto eastbound Illinois 336. This design will reduce the conflicting movements for southbound County Road 600 E from five to two at the intersection, with only one conflicting movement at the U-turn location.
 
Work is anticipated to be complete in early August.
Region 4, District 6 held two public meetings in June to gather input for planned projects in Beardstown and Petersburg in central Illinois.

In Beardstown, plans were presented for a new bridge over the Illinois River to replace the current bridge that was built in 1955. In Petersburg, maps and other materials were on display showing the proposal to realign, add shoulders and resurface Illinois 97 and 123, which are the main roads through the community.
Letting Update
 
July 15 is the next letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2022. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting.

  • June 24 at 4:30 p.m. Prequalification cutoff (Date that contractors must be qualified to bid on contracts.)
  • July 8 at 4:30 p.m. Joint venture cutoff (three contractor limit. Date for these groups who want to bid can do so.)
  • July 12 at 4:30 p.m. Request for authorization to bid cutoff (Final date for contractors who are authorized to bid on contracts.) 
  • July 15 at noon Letting (Bids can be submitted until 11:59 a.m. on the day. Bids are shut down at noon.) 
 
If you are new to the IDOT bid letting process or need updated information, following are some helpful resources:
 
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