 Project manager Lisa Kramer of Hanson Professional Services in
Springfield presented plans, which are in the preliminary stage. She
told the audience of about 40 that planners realize it will be an
inconvenience to those along the road, but plans have been made to
minimize the inconvenience.
The initial study for the roadway was from Lincoln Parkway to New
Holland-Middletown.
Drawing: Typical Sections
The portion that is now being planned is from Lincoln Parkway to
I-55. This area has been divided into five construction segments.
The segments may not go in order of their number and may even
hopscotch, Kramer said.
-
Segment 1: I-55 to
Forrest Hills Road
-
Segment 2: Forest
Hills Road to Connolley
-
Segment 3: Connolley
to the closest middle entry to Westminster
-
Segment 4: Middle
Westminster Drive to Holly Drive
-
Segment 5: Holly
Drive to Lincoln Parkway (This is the longest stretch and as
such is expected to take the longest.)
Location
The current road has two lanes, one going each direction, and it
is between 20 and 25 feet wide.
The proposed road would be three lanes, with one lane in each
direction and a center turn lane, and between 26 and 32 feet wide.
Its construction would be concrete curb and gutter, and a thick
asphalt bed that is 8,000-pound weight-tolerant for trucks. The
whole crowd chuckled when an audience member jested, "Could we have
curb and gutter the other side of I-55 too?"
Water lines are planned to run on the south side and sewer on the
north. The location of the storm water line has not been determined.
A possible bicycle path is laid to the south.
Pertinent information during construction:
-
During the
construction of each of the five segments there will always be
one lane of roadway in place.
-
All emergency
vehicles will have access at all times of the day. Everyone not
living or doing business in the section that is under
construction will be detoured around.
-
Minimal detour routes
have been set.
-
Trucks going to
businesses in construction areas will still have access.
-
The speed limit will
be 35 mph.
-
People living on the
other side of I-55 will be detoured during the construction.
-
Each segment is
expected to be closed between one and two months.
[to top of second column] |
 Kramer said that planning began with a study in 1996, and that
study has been updated in 2007 for roadway changes, current
materials and costs. She anticipates submitting a preliminary design
plan and specifications to the Illinois Department of Transportation
early in 2009. The review process will last six to 12 months and
then, with a finalized plan in hand, construction could begin.
The date for the start of construction is then dependent on the
city of Lincoln and Logan County having funding in place. The city
is responsible for 75 percent and the county for 25 percent of the
costs. Estimated cost at in the preliminary stage is $4.4 million to
$4.7 million.
It was of interest to some residents that the plans incorporate
extending the sewer line as far as gravity would allow toward I-55.
Kramer said that $300,000 to $400,000 has been incorporated in the
estimated cost. It is always better to put a sewer line in at the
same time as road construction, she said.
The city is hoping for state or federal dollars to help fund the
project. If that fails, city treasurer Les Plotner said that they
could put it on a referendum to raise the non-home rule sales tax
0.5 cent. They would then take out a loan that would be paid by the
non-home rule tax.
The roadway from I-55 to the New Holland-Middletown is planned to
remain two lanes. This part of the road falls entirely to the county
to fund.
According to Bret Aukamp, Logan County highway engineer, the
county does not want to spend the funds to update that plan until
funding for the construction is possible.
Preliminary reports, including environmental documents and an
engineering analysis with drawings, maps and aerial photography, are
available for review and inspection at Lincoln City Hall for the
next 10 days.
[Jan
Youngquist]
 |
