May 11, 2022
Important: See below for upcoming cutoff date reminders in letting section
Chicago to Carbondale: Rebuilding I-57

IDOT is making a major investment in Interstate 57 this construction season, as more than a third of the 94 miles of roads and bridges from Chicago’s South Side to the Iroquois-Ford County line will be improved. That’s in addition to several improvements underway along the corridor in central and southern Illinois.
 
Safe Routes to School making the difference in Kankakee
 
Making Court Street in Kankakee safer for Martin Luther King Middle School students is just one of the many successes from IDOT’s Safe Routes to School. Watch the video.
 
Safe Routes to School recently funded 57 projects, selected from 102 applications received from municipalities and schools across the state. These programs are funded by $12.3 million in grants that will help boost the health and safety of children via safer walking and biking routes to school. The complete grant list is here.
Region 2, District 2: The new bicycle and pedestrian path is open on the Interstate 74 Mississippi River bridge in the Quad Cities, offering the public a new way to view and explore the area.
 
One prominent feature is a scenic overlook allows the public to stand on a glass oculus made of thick, tempered glass that provides a unique view of the Mississippi River and the boats that pass underneath. The path lights up at night an offers a close-up of look at the color changing arches.
Region 2, District 3: A project has begun to reconstruct the intersection of Illinois 178 and U.S. 6 in Utica from a signalized intersection into a roundabout. All lanes will remain open controlled by temporary traffic signals. Traffic may be reduced to one lane controlled by flaggers when workers are present. This $2.4 million project is scheduled to be completed by fall.
 
The project is one of three that will happen this season in the Utica area. Also under construction are the Illinois 178 bridge crossing the Vermilion River and the road and parking lot for the Dells area at Matthiessen State Park near Utica.
Letting Update
 
June 17 is the next letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2022. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting.

  • May 13 at 10 a.m. Transportation Bulletin release (Official advertisement of projects.)
  • May 27 at 4:30 p.m. Prequalification cutoff (Date that contractors must be qualified to bid on contracts.)
  • June 10 at 4:30 p.m. Joint venture cutoff (three contractor limit. Date for these groups who want to bid can do so.)
  • June 14 at 4:30 p.m. Request for authorization to bid cutoff (Final date for contractors who are authorized to bid on contracts.) 
  • June 17 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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