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Start 6: Interstate 74 Upgrade
Cost: $460 million
The upgrade of Interstate 74 in Peoria,
Ill., is reportedly the largest road reconstruction project
in downstate Illinois history.
Upgrade 74 - as the project is known - will completely remove
and replace I-74 from East Peoria through Peoria, said Matt
Jereb, construction engineer for the Illinois Department of
Transportation District 4.
About 45 lane miles will be rebuilt, and the lane number will
expand from two to three.
The interstate needs an upgrade because it does not meet current
standards. I-74 was originally finished in 1959 and precedes
the interstate system.
The pavement has become worn, he said. About 300,000 cars
traveled on the thoroughfare when it was originally constructed,
and the number has doubled.
Motorists' safety has been impacted. In fact, 13 of 22 areas
of I-74 exceed the statewide average accident rate.
Forty-two bridges will be rebuilt or newly constructed as
part of the project, and all the ramps through the segment
will be reconstructed, Jereb said.
Three Work Stages
Though preliminary work took place in 2002 and involved the
reconstruction of a bridge, stage one construction began in
July 2003, said George Ryan, project implementation engineer
for the IDOT. Active contracts are valued at $100 million,
and these are expected to be complete by November.
They cover the widening of Sterling Avenue, the improvements
of main streets crossing I-74, construction of downtown streets
west of Adams Street, the permanent removal of three bridges
and initial work on spurs.
The reconstruction of downtown streets is hoped to lessen
the project's impact on motorists during the height of construction,
Jereb added.
Stage two work, which is set to begin in summer 2004 and last
through fall 2005, includes the construction of new ramps
at Sterling Avenue, the raising of Adams Street, the construction
of new tunnels in downtown Peoria and the construction of
the interstate's new eastbound lanes.
The mainline composition will be 11.5-in.-thick continuously
reinforced concrete, Jereb said.
Stage three, which is the final, will start in summer of 2005
and includes the reconstruction of I-74's westbound lanes.
The project as a whole is expected to last through December
2006, according to IDOT.
Additionally, Upgrade 74 will put in new, brighter lighting
for safety and new landscaping and beautification treatments
to ensure the interstate looks better than it did previously.
Some retaining wall, for instance, will have a limestone face.
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Key
Players
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Owner:
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Illinois Department of Transportation District 4, Peoria,
Ill.
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Contractor (Preliminary Stage):
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Halverson Construction Co., Springfield, Ill.
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Contractor (Stage One Contracts 2, 3 and 3A and 4 and
4A):
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Walsh Construction Co., Chicago
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Contractor (Stage One Contract SC2):
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MasTec North America Inc., Atlanta
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Consultant (Preliminary Stage):
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R.W. Armstrong, Indianapolis
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Consultant (Stage One Contract SC2):
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Edwards & Kelcey, Chicago
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Consultant (Stage One Contract 2):
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V3 Infrastructure Services Ltd., Woodridge, Ill.
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Consultant (Stage One Contract 3 and 3A):
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Maurer-Stutz Inc., Peoria, Ill.
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Consultant (Stage One Contract 4 and 4a):
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Clark Engineering, Peoria, Ill.
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