Feb. 14, 2024

Building Blocks of Success series workshops in February

Join the Illinois Department of Transportation for several free virtual Building Blocks of Success series workshops every Tuesday and Thursday in February. New and existing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and firms interested in becoming certified in the DBE program are invited to participate.

February workshop dates and topics:

• Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to noon: Benefits of Becoming IDOT DBE Certified, How to Apply & Expand Work Categories
• Feb. 27, 10 a.m. to noon: Accounting Practices / Financial Reporting Financial Series
• Feb. 29, 10 a.m. to noon: Budgeting & Cashflow Management

The Building Blocks of Success series will continue through April. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/dbeworkshops.

Region 2, District 3: An emergency repair project will begin Feb. 19 on Interstate 80 between the Illinois 47 and Seneca interchange in Grundy County to address the roadway following damage from January’s snow and frigid temperatures.

The project will patch and resurface 6.5 miles of I-80 that experiences pavement failures and potholes. One lane in each direction will be open and there will be daily lane closures during the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 10 weeks.

Region 3, District 4: Cedar Street and its extension (Illinois 8 and 116) are in store for a major overhaul, with the first of three connected projects starting this spring that represents a total $87.4 million investment when fully completed. The initial $15 million project is in East Peoria from the east end of the Cedar Street bridge over the Illinois River to east of Center Street, including the Edmund Street interchange.

Work will include pavement patching, milling, resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, earthwork, guardrail installation and ancillary tasks. Most of this project is expected to wrap up by late fall, with minor work going into 2025. During construction, traffic will remain open with short-term closures on ramps and crossroads.

The second, larger $65.4 million adjacent project, also in East Peoria, is targeted for a fall 2024 letting, focuses on Cedar Street from east of Center Street to the South Main Street interchange (Illinois 8/116 with Illinois 29/U.S. 24). Replacement of the bridges carrying the Cedar Street extension over the Tazewell and Peoria Railroad and Illinois 29 along with reconstruction of this interchange will take approximately two and a half years to complete.

Completing the trifecta is a $7 million structural steel repair project to the 1930s bridge carrying Cedar Street over the Illinois River between Peoria and East Peoria. This project is targeted for a spring 2025 letting pending land acquisition, and construction should be completed in one construction season. 

Letting Update

March 8 is the first letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2024. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting.

• Feb. 16 at 4:30 p.m. Prequalification cutoff (Date that contractors must be qualified to bid on contracts.)
• March 1 at 4:30 p.m. Joint venture cutoff (three contractor limit. Date for these groups who want to bid can do so.)  
• March 5 at 4:30 p.m. Request for authorization to bid cutoff (Final date for contractors who are authorized to bid on contracts.) 
• March 8 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:

• Transportation Bulletin
• EBids
• Letting Schedule
• Electronic Subscription Service
• Prequalification
• Authorization to Bid
• Bid Bonds