January 31, 2022
Important: See below for upcoming cutoff date reminders in letting section
New permit route guidance app provides audible turn-by-turn navigation
A new route guidance app for routine oversize and overweight permits is now available. The app features audible turn-by-turn technology, which will enable truck drivers to hear directions while keeping their attention on the road.
 
Building Blocks of Success: IDOT hosts DBE workshops in February

The Office of Business and Workforce Diversity will host free virtual workshops in February as part of Building Blocks of Success, a continuing series of free virtual workshops for firms interested in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program and strengthening their skills.
 
Region 2: District 2 hosted a virtual public meeting on Jan. 12 to discuss the preliminary engineering and environmental study for the improvement of 4 miles of Business U.S. 20 from Shaw Road in Boone County through the State Street/Appleton Road intersection in Belvidere.
 
The study will evaluate reconstruction and expansion of Business U.S. 20 from two to four lanes to accommodate future traffic projections. The study also will evaluate safety, capacity and infrastructure deficiencies to increase mobility of the corridor.
 
Input during the meeting will help IDOT establish improvement strategies. Comments can be submitted here. Any comments received through Feb. 12 will become part of the official public meeting record.
Region 3: District 4’s Morton Team Section completed an erosion mitigation project to clean out a 42-inch culvert crossing under Illinois 116 in East Peoria. The culvert had become plugged with sediment from a bluff overhead. Water was running over the road during rain events, causing a reccurring traffic hazard.
 
It took eight days of excavation and hauling to clean out the pipe and downstream ditch line. The team then used gabion baskets constructed in-house and riprap to armor the upstream inlet and create an energy dissipation basin. They will pour an outlet apron on the downstream side to facilitate any future maintenance.
Letting Update
 
March 11 is the next letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2022. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting.
 
  • Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. Transportation Bulletin release (Official advertisement of projects.)
  • Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. Prequalification cutoff (Date that contractors must be qualified to bid on contracts.)
  • March 4 at 4:30 p.m. Joint venture cutoff (three contractor limit. Date for these groups who want to bid can do so.)
  • March 8 at 4:30 p.m. Request for authorization to bid cutoff (Final date for contractors who are authorized to bid on contracts.)
  • March 11 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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