What corridors in Illinois DO need upgrades?

[I-39]

I've posted several topics over the last month or so about various projects (U.S 20, 30, 34, 51, 67, IL-29, 336, etc) and IDOT's proposals to make them into 4 lane expressways/freeways, and often times, I see people respond with things like "all it needs is passing lanes" or "this is not worth it", etc.

So I want to pose the question, outside of Chicagoland, what Illinois corridors (if any) DO need upgrading to 4 lanes or other improvements (outside of just passing lanes) in your opinion.

[3467]

US 20 Galena bypass and I will include continuous passing lanes not just sporadic because that is a major upgrade -150 million
US 30 What the locals want Improvements in Morrison and to the existing route
US 34 West of Monmouth complete 4 lane expressway US 34 East of Galesburg continuous passing lanes 150m
US 67 North of Monmouth Cont Passing lanes and south 4 lane expressway 700 m
The Peoria routes 29 Cont PL IL 9 the same No Ring road
US 51 4 lane expressway to I-70 Improved 2 lane south
US 50 the Leb bypass and 23 miles 4 lane expressway and keep rest of ROW in case IN does something
IL 127 4 lane expressway
Other bypass like Decatur or Rockford or Gateway are dreams not ever going to happen
I would do a statewide study to see what improvements other routes needed or could be built but I think I have got most of the major routes and I would fix the bridges

[kphoger]

^^ How much of US-50, total, should be four-laned?

[Rick Powell]

I've posted several topics over the last month or so about various projects (U.S 20, 30, 34, 51, 67, IL-29, 336, etc) and IDOT's proposals to make them into 4 lane expressways/freeways, and often times, I see people respond with things like "all it needs is passing lanes" or "this is not worth it", etc.

So I want to pose the question, outside of Chicagoland, what Illinois corridors (if any) DO need upgrading to 4 lanes or other improvements (outside of just passing lanes) in your opinion.

It's on the edge of Chicagoland and some would say it defines its western border, but there is a combined push by the counties it runs through (McHenry, Kane, Kendall and Grundy) to get IL 47 4-laned from I-55 to near the WI state line.  Except for the section between I-88 and I-90, and the section from Southmor Road (south of Morris) to I-55, IDOT is in planning or construction for all of it, and Grundy County is pushing IDOT to start looking at the stretch from Southmor Road to I-55.

[kphoger]

Oh, yeah! IL-47, for sure. You're right, though: it's pushing the definition of Chicagoland.

[Brandon]

Oh, yeah! IL-47, for sure. You're right, though: it's pushing the definition of Chicagoland.

Considering that the part from US-30 northward is in District 1, and the Kendall County and Grundy County parts are in suburbanizing areas (Yorkville, Morris), it is in Chicagoland.  However, that said, District 3 is busy widening IL-47 from I-80 north to US-30.  It is already four lanes from IL-71 through most of Yorkville (Somonauk Street).  it is under the knife from Somonauk Street north to north of US-34.  Next on the list, as far as I know, is the part south of IL-71.  IDOT has already done the utility relocations between there and the north end of Morris.

[kphoger]

Nothing is needed south of Dwight (except a 70-mph speed limit to match reality), but I don't remember what 47 is like between Dwight and Morris.

[I-39]

Ok, I'll throw in my 2 cents here. What corridors really need improvement outside of Chicago? I only believe the "big three" corridors (U.S 20, 51, 67) need four lane improvements really, everything else is fine or just needs passing lanes.

U.S 20: Galena bypass and expressway rest of way

U.S 51: New freeway on western alignment from Bloomington to Decatur. South of Decatur: bypass of Pana and passing lanes south to Centralia

U.S 67: expressway from Monmouth to Godfrey (including an improved Macomb bypass that does not tie back into existing alignment until north of Good Hope)

And for the record, I agree 10000000% about IL-47 needing widening, but that is borderline Chicagoland so I didn't count that. IL-47 needs widening from Woodstock to I-80, especially the section between Yorkville and Huntley.

[kphoger]

bypass of Pana

  Yes!  And let's put one around Vandalia while we're at it.

[I-39]

bypass of Pana

  Yes!  And let's put one around Vandalia while we're at it.

Vandalia doesn't want one, they want the existing route upgraded, and IDOT can't seem to agree upon a route. It really doesn't need 4 lanes south of Vandalia anyway.

[pianocello]

I-74 in the Quad Cities, especially the bridge, has needed upgrades for decades now.

In Peoria, I-74's four-lane bridge over the Illinois seems too narrow in theory IMO, but I've never experienced problems with it, so it's probably not needed.

[Rick Powell]

bypass of Pana

  Yes!  And let's put one around Vandalia while we're at it.

Vandalia doesn't want one, they want the existing route upgraded, and IDOT can't seem to agree upon a route. It really doesn't need 4 lanes south of Vandalia anyway.

The Preferred Alternative in the EIS uses I-70 to the west a few miles and then drops down to the southeast where it rejoins US 51 several miles south of V-town.  South of Vandalia is a huge flood plain that will be expensive to cross no matter where the route goes.  I don't think expanding US 51 through town was ever seriously looked at...a 5-lane section on existing alignment would wipe out a lot of buildings.  They did look at a shift to the east, going along the east edge of town to line up with the southern section of US 51, but again, there were probably too many complications, and the city didn't like that one either.

[Rick Powell]

Nothing is needed south of Dwight (except a 70-mph speed limit to match reality), but I don't remember what 47 is like between Dwight and Morris.

I go through there many times a year as it is on the way between our house and daughter's.  It is pretty busy north of IL 113, but there are no real capacity issues, just the normal safety issues you get with a 2 lane road with lots of impatient people wanting to pass.  Thru Mazon, there is a busy BNSF railroad crossing, but no stoplight.  The only traffic signals are at Southmor Road and Pine Bluff Road, up near Morris (where it is already 4 lane), and there are no stop signs on the main route.  When I was at IDOT and the Illinois River bridge project was being studied, the feds wanted IL 47 widened all the way from the bridge at Morris to IL 113 as it was the most logical termini for a lane drop, but IDOT convinced them to end the 4 lane section at Southmor Road instead.  Looking back I think extending it to IL 113 would have been better...there are probably 10k vehicles a day on that section now and there will be more trucks coming west out of the new intermodal terminal in Wilmington.

[I-39]

bypass of Pana

  Yes!  And let's put one around Vandalia while we're at it.

Vandalia doesn't want one, they want the existing route upgraded, and IDOT can't seem to agree upon a route. It really doesn't need 4 lanes south of Vandalia anyway.

The Preferred Alternative in the EIS uses I-70 to the west a few miles and then drops down to the southeast where it rejoins US 51 several miles south of V-town.  South of Vandalia is a huge flood plain that will be expensive to cross no matter where the route goes.  I don't think expanding US 51 through town was ever seriously looked at...a 5-lane section on existing alignment would wipe out a lot of buildings.  They did look at a shift to the east, going along the east edge of town to line up with the southern section of US 51, but again, there were probably too many complications, and the city didn't like that one either.

I would have rather they built it along the original U.S 51 supplemental freeway alignment, but then again, I don't even believe this should be built at all south of Pana.

[Brandon]

Nothing is needed south of Dwight (except a 70-mph speed limit to match reality), but I don't remember what 47 is like between Dwight and Morris.

I go through there many times a year as it is on the way between our house and daughter's.  It is pretty busy north of IL 113, but there are no real capacity issues, just the normal safety issues you get with a 2 lane road with lots of impatient people wanting to pass.  Thru Mazon, there is a busy BNSF railroad crossing, but no stoplight.  The only traffic signals are at Southmor Road and Pine Bluff Road, up near Morris (where it is already 4 lane), and there are no stop signs on the main route.  When I was at IDOT and the Illinois River bridge project was being studied, the feds wanted IL 47 widened all the way from the bridge at Morris to IL 113 as it was the most logical termini for a lane drop, but IDOT convinced them to end the 4 lane section at Southmor Road instead.  Looking back I think extending it to IL 113 would have been better...there are probably 10k vehicles a day on that section now and there will be more trucks coming west out of the new intermodal terminal in Wilmington.

Ugh.  Leave it to IDOT to do things half-assed and cheap.  And people (even on this forum) wonder how they get the moniker "IDiOT".  This is a prime example.  Even the Feds knew better and IDOT still went for cheap.

[sandwalk]

The Rockford Bypass should really be 3 lanes in each direction, from the IL-2 interchange east to the I-39 / 90 interchange.  And obviously, the US-20 / I-39 interchange should probably be revamped.

[I-39]

The Rockford Bypass should really be 3 lanes in each direction, from the IL-2 interchange east to the I-39 / 90 interchange.  And obviously, the US-20 / I-39 interchange should probably be revamped.

Yes, most definitely. IDOT has plans to reconstruct the main ramp movements to widen them to 2 lanes instead of a single lane, and they have plans to reconstruct and widen the bypass to six lanes between IL-2 and the I-90/39 Cherry Valley Interchange. However, I feel that doesn't go far enough 

What really needs to be done there is I-39/U.S 51 needs to be realigned to head straight north and traffic going westbound on U.S 20 needs to exit I-39/U.S 51 southbound. Like this map below.



Unfortunately, this will not be possible because of the high impacts to residential areas (not to mention some environmental impacts), but this is what really needs to be done to improve traffic flow. As part of this, I would reconstruct and widen I-39 to six lanes between the Cherry Valley Interchange and Baxter Road.

[ET21]

Since I-39 is a major bypass of Chicago to Wisconsin/Central IL, 3 lanes would probably be needed pretty soon. I've noticed in the years I've driven it traffic has increased. I can't say how bad traffic is south of I-80, but maybe 3 lanes between I-80 and US-20

[kphoger]

39 there is not exactly busting at the seams.

[Rick Powell]

I can't say how bad traffic is south of I-80, but maybe 3 lanes between I-80 and US-20

I-39 between I-80 and US 20 has half of the traffic volume of I-80 between Joliet and Morris.  I-80 is still 4 lane, but might get an extra lane in each direction within the next 10 years, if all the studies continue and funding is found.  I-39 is not on anybody's radar, and probably won't be expanded for another several decades.

[I-39]

I can't say how bad traffic is south of I-80, but maybe 3 lanes between I-80 and US-20

I-39 between I-80 and US 20 has half of the traffic volume of I-80 between Joliet and Morris.  I-80 is still 4 lane, but might get an extra lane in each direction within the next 10 years, if all the studies continue and funding is found.  I-39 is not on anybody's radar, and probably won't be expanded for another several decades.

Maybe not to I-80, but according to this article, they are going to begin considering widening to three lanes in the general Rockford area. I wouldn't be surprised if the section between I-90 and I-88 was widened to six lanes within the next 10-15 years.

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20141115/News/141119648

With all those companies possibly opening up shop along the corridor, I'm surprised Decatur is not pushing to build an extension of I-39 so they can get in on some of this too.

[JREwing78]

What really needs to be done there is I-39/U.S 51 needs to be realigned to head straight north and traffic going westbound on U.S 20 needs to exit I-39/U.S 51 southbound. Like this map below.

I'm not sure what problem that change in interchange design solves. If you've 6-laned I-39/US-20 and add the additional lanes through the existing interchange, you've solved most of the problem right there. Clean up the geometry from the aborted highway extension northward, and you fix the rest of the problem.

The biggest problem, IMHO, is that short-spaced Cherry Valley interchange. Traffic from EBD Harrison Ave or WBD US-20 to NBD I-39/90 has to weave with traffic on NBD I-39/EBD US-20 wanting to take EBD I-90.

You also have traffic from WBD I-90 having to weave with SBD I-39 traffic trying to exit for WBD Harrison/EBD US-20.

Separating traffic from WBD I-90/to EBD I-90 from the other traffic would solve a lot of problems.

[I-39]

What really needs to be done there is I-39/U.S 51 needs to be realigned to head straight north and traffic going westbound on U.S 20 needs to exit I-39/U.S 51 southbound. Like this map below.

I'm not sure what problem that change in interchange design solves. If you've 6-laned I-39/US-20 and add the additional lanes through the existing interchange, you've solved most of the problem right there. Clean up the geometry from the aborted highway extension northward, and you fix the rest of the problem.

The biggest problem, IMHO, is that short-spaced Cherry Valley interchange. Traffic from EBD Harrison Ave or WBD US-20 to NBD I-39/90 has to weave with traffic on NBD I-39/EBD US-20 wanting to take EBD I-90.

You also have traffic from WBD I-90 having to weave with SBD I-39 traffic trying to exit for WBD Harrison/EBD US-20.

Separating traffic from WBD I-90/to EBD I-90 from the other traffic would solve a lot of problems.

The reason I propose this is:

1. Most traffic in that corridor are using I-39/U.S 51, not U.S 20, so the current configuration makes no sense about exiting U.S 20 WB to get on I-39 SB. I'm not totally convinced simply rebuilding the ramps to two lanes will solve the entire problem. Using through lanes would be better, especially with all the traffic the route is getting (see the article below)

2. The proposed improvements by IDOT don't address the traffic moving from NB I-39 to WB U.S 20 and from EB U.S 20 to SB I-39. It appears IDOT has long range plans to upgrade U.S 20 to a freeway (this is still the plan as of 2015) between Rockford and Dubuque. If that happens, traffic will increase on U.S 20 and they'll need to deal with the aforementioned movements on the interchange. There is limited ROW to do anything with the current configuration. This configuration would allow for smoother traffic flow through the area

See the proposed improvements here: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/I39US20

A article titled "Truck traffic takes its toll on I-39": http://www.rrstar.com/article/20141115/News/141119648

[3467]

I think 6 lanes to 88 would do it . Also IDOTs improvements to IL 2 might keep some cars on that route.
I only kept 51 and expressway to keep Adam happy since he doesn't care make it 3 lanes too. I kept the 4 lane expressway that was under study from Olney to IL 1 and 127 because southern Illinois just whines so much if they don't get something ..so give the 50 miles of expressway ....We are "saving" a lot elsewhere. I will admit to ripping off Mop and WI who are planning this for their lesser used arterials
I have a total of 6 miles of freeway @ Galena about 100 million
70 more miles of mostly expressway on 67 100 million for bridge 400 million for the rest
maybe 30 million more for expressway on US 51 and 50 million on US 34
200 million for the 50 miles of southern Illinois expressway
I come up with about 240 miles of 3 lane for the rest -How much is that? IDOT just added 6 feet of road for 150,000 a mile on 116 so for a 12 foot lane it would be twice that . I wont count other needed widen amd resurfacings because those should come from maintenance not expansion so ....72 million
At that price double it any other state would and people would be happy Truckers happy but not Illinois so that makes my 900 million plan is fantasy unlike IDioTs  multi billion dollar one

[kphoger]

stream of consciousness

I got lost and gave up.