April 27, 2022
Important: See below for upcoming cutoff date reminders in letting section
Horseshoe Mound project flourishing with the help of District 2 
 
A drive along U.S. 20 near Galena will be more scenic thanks to a partnership between IDOT and the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation that will update the Horseshoe Mound Preserve.
 
Employee Spotlight: Ken Crawford, District 5 Project Implementation Engineer
 
Ken Crawford has taken on a variety of roles throughout his 22-plus years at IDOT. In his current role as District 5 Project Implementation Engineer, he shares his thoughts about the job and the evolution of his career.
 
I Am IDOT series spotlights frontline employees

I Am IDOT is a recurring series that takes a closer look at the agency’s many employees who maintain our roads and bridges and keep them safe for motorists daily. In addition to appearing on our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn), find all our entries on our Flickr page.
 
Be sure to check out our social media channels to discover who we’ll profile next.
Region 2: District 3 kicked off the construction of several Interstate 57 corridor projects in Kankakee this spring. The bridge replacement of Waldron Road over I-57 and the four mainline bridges over Grinnell Road and Norfolk Southern Railroad will all be in the works throughout 2022.
 
The Waldron Road bridge will be widened to accommodate a 10-foot-wide multi-use path. The existing retaining walls along I-57 will replaced with a new retaining wall constructed farther from the highway for increased safety. Just to the north, the Grinnell Road bridges, Norfolk Southern Railroad bridges and associated I-57 work will also be under construction. The bridges and reconstruction are designed to accommodate a future six-lane cross-section with minimal additional work required.
Region 5: District 9 has introduced a new project website, https://projectmeetingonline.com/mt-vernon-interchange-at-il-15/, to help the public to learn more and comment about the preliminary engineering and environmental study for improvements to the Interstate 57/64 interchange with Illinois 15 in Mount Vernon. The study is necessary to address safety concerns and evaluate the interchange capacity and mobility improvements to reduce delays.
 
The public can view exhibits, maps, leave comments and ask questions of IDOT and the project consultant. Written comments can be sent to: Illinois Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 100, Carbondale, Ill. 62903, Attn: Carrie Nelsen, IDOT Program Development Engineer. All comments received before May 10 will become part of the meeting record.
Letting Update
 
April 29 is the next letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2022. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting.

  • April 29 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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