Jan. 22, 2024

Secretary Omer Osman (second from left) visits with workers at the Lacon Bridge project last summer.

Building Blocks of Success series workshops in January

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

January workshop dates and topics are:



• Jan. 23, 10 a.m. to noon: Bonding and Insurance – Advanced Insurance & Bonding (Underwriting)
• Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to noon: Bonding and Insurance – Insurance, Bonding and Risk Management for Construction Firms
• Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to noon: Marketing and Networking Series – Business and Strategic Plans Q&A

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

Heavy-duty equipment for a heavy-duty storm 

Day Labor, IDOT’s in-house construction unit, was deployed to District 2 in northern Illinois to help clear the heavy amounts of snow from last week's storms. A large snowblower was used in Henry County to clear several roads that were blocked from blowing and drifting snow, including Illinois 81 and 82. Day Labor also used a v-plow and wing plow to help with routes in Rock Island County.

Visit Getting Around Illinois to learn more about road conditions this winter and beyond.

Region 5, District 8: Work is progressing well with the Greene County resurfacing project on Illinois 267 from the Jersey County line to Bear Creek in Greenfield. Improvements wrapped up on the north and south portions of the $11.5 million project. The middle section, through Greenfield, will continue over the winter.

Remaining work will be completed next spring, including pavement markings and ADA improvements.

Region 5, District 9: Work has finished on a $17.9 million pavement patching, resurfacing, and bridge repair project on Interstate 24 in southern Illinois. The project, starting at the Massac/Johnson County line and continuing to the Vienna interchange, is among several planned for I-24 in the next few years.

Click here to learn more about current and future I-24 projects. 

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. 2 at 10 a.m. Transportation Bulletin release (Official advertisement of projects.) 
• 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